Question

In a DNA sample, 15% of the bases are thymine (T). What percentage of the bases in this sample are adenine (A)

Answer 1

According to Chargaff's rule, in a DNA sample, the percentage of adenine is equal to the percentage of thymine, so if there is 15% thymine, there will also be 15% adenine.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of DNA base composition, Erwin Chargaff's rules show that the amount of adenine (A) is always equal to the amount of thymine (T), and the amount of guanine (G) is equal to the amount of cytosine (C). Given that in a DNA sample, 15% of the bases are thymine, we can apply Chargaff's rule which tells us that the percentage of adenine will be the same. Therefore, in this DNA sample, 15% of the bases are also adenine.

Answer 2

In DNA, thymine binds to adenine, and cytosine binds to guanine. This means that there is an equal amount of thymine and adenine, and there is an equal amount of cytosine and guanine.

If there is 15% thymine, there should be 15% adenine.

Note that in real life, the percentage of bases won't be 100% equal.