Final answer:
The complementary DNA sequence to GCTTATAT is CGAATATA, demonstrating the base-pairing rules essential for DNA replication and gene expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is related to the concept of complementary DNA sequences, which in the context of DNA molecule means that each nucleotide base on one strand precisely pairs with its counterpart on the opposite strand. In DNA, adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G). Given the DNA sequence GCTTATAT, the complementary DNA sequence would be CGAATATA because G pairs with C and A pairs with T.
This knowledge is essential for understanding how DNA replication occurs, as the two strands must separate and be used as templates to create new complementary strands. It's also foundational for transcription in the process of gene expression, during which an mRNA sequence is generated from the DNA template and later translated into an amino acid sequence.