Question

Cytosine makes up 42% of the nucleotides in a sample of DNA from an organism. Approximately what percentage of the nucleotides in this sample will be thymine?a) 8%b) 16%c) 31%d) 42%e) It cannot be determined from the information provided

Answer 1

Percentage of Thymine is 8%

Background Knowledge:

DNA molecule is composed of four type of nucleotides Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine and Thymine. DNA is double stranded molecule in which one strand form complementary base pairing with other strand i.e Adenine present on one strand of DNA always form complementary base pairing with thymine of other strand similarly Guanine present on one strand of DNA always form complementary base pairing with Cytosine of other strand.

Step-by-step explanation:

As Cytosine percentage in DNA is 42% hence Guanine percentage is also 42%.

Total percentage of both Cytosine and Guanine become

42 + 42 = 84%.

Percentage remained for both Adenine and Thymine is

100 - 84 = 16%

So Percentage of Thymine is 8%