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Multiple Choice
Which of the following DNA strands correctly pairs with the strand 5'-ATCG-3' by base pairing?
A
5'-TAGC-3'
B
5'-ATCG-3'
C
5'-GCTA-3'
D
5'-CGAT-3'
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of base pairing in DNA: DNA strands pair through complementary bases, where adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G).
Identify the directionality of the given DNA strand: The strand is presented as 5'-ATCG-3'. The 5' and 3' indicate the direction of the strand, which is important for pairing.
Determine the complementary bases for each nucleotide in the given strand: For the strand 5'-ATCG-3', A pairs with T, T pairs with A, C pairs with G, and G pairs with C.
Write the complementary strand in the correct direction: Since the original strand is 5'-ATCG-3', the complementary strand will be 3'-TAGC-5'.
Reverse the direction of the complementary strand to match the 5' to 3' orientation: The complementary strand 3'-TAGC-5' should be written as 5'-TAGC-3' to match the standard 5' to 3' orientation.