Final answer:
The double-stranded DNA molecule of Elradicus libanii, which is 17 micrometers in length, contains approximately 50,000 base pairs, as calculated by dividing the length of DNA (17000 nm) by the distance between each base pair (0.34 nm).
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking how many base pairs are present in a double-stranded DNA molecule of an organism, labeled Elradicus libanii, which was measured to be 17 micrometers long. From established biological knowledge, it is known that each base pair in a DNA molecule is separated by 0.34 nm (or 0.34 x 10-9 meters). To find the number of base pairs in this newly discovered organism, we would Convert the length of the DNA from micrometers to nanometers by multiplying by 1000 (since there are 1000 nanometers in a micrometer) and then divide by the distance between base pairs.
In this case, 17 micrometers is equal to 17,000 nanometers. Therefore, to find the number of base pairs, we would perform the following calculation: 17,000 nm / 0.34 nm per base pair, which equals approximately 50,000 base pairs. This means that the DNA molecule contains around 50,000 base pairs.