Final answer:
Nucleic acid bases are selective in their pairing. Incorrect base pairing can lead to mutations and genetic disorders.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nucleic acid base is selective in terms of what other base it can pair with. This is because nucleic acid bases form specific base pairs, where adenine (A) always pairs with thymine (T) in DNA or uracil (U) in RNA, and cytosine (C) always pairs with guanine (G). They do so through hydrogen bonding between specific functional groups on the bases.
If nucleic acid bases were able to pair with any other base, it would lead to incorrect base pairing and disruption of the genetic code. This could result in errors during DNA replication or transcription, leading to mutations and genetic disorders.
For example, if adenine pairs with cytosine instead of thymine, it would change the sequence of DNA or RNA, altering the instructions for protein synthesis or other cellular processes. This would have significant consequences for the functioning of cells and organisms.
Learn more about Nucleic acid base pairing