Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements correctly describes purines and pyrimidines in DNA molecules?
A
Purines are double-ringed bases (adenine and guanine), while pyrimidines are single-ringed bases (cytosine and thymine).
B
Both purines and pyrimidines are double-ringed structures found only in RNA.
C
Purines are single-ringed bases (cytosine and thymine), while pyrimidines are double-ringed bases (adenine and guanine).
D
Purines and pyrimidines are both single-ringed structures that pair with each other randomly.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the basic structure of nitrogenous bases in DNA. DNA bases are divided into two categories based on their ring structure: purines and pyrimidines.
Step 2: Recall that purines have a double-ring structure, which means they consist of two fused rings. The purines in DNA are adenine (A) and guanine (G).
Step 3: Recall that pyrimidines have a single-ring structure, meaning they consist of only one ring. The pyrimidines in DNA are cytosine (C) and thymine (T).
Step 4: Recognize that purines always pair with pyrimidines in DNA to maintain a consistent width of the DNA double helix. Specifically, adenine pairs with thymine, and guanine pairs with cytosine.
Step 5: Evaluate the given statements by matching them with these facts: purines are double-ringed bases (adenine and guanine), and pyrimidines are single-ringed bases (cytosine and thymine). This will help identify the correct description.