Final answer:
The statement C + T = A + G is false because adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G), making the amounts of A equal to T and G equal to C in DNA.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship C + T = A + G in a regular double-stranded DNA molecule is false. We know from Chargaff's rules that in DNA, adenine (A) always pairs with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) always pairs with guanine (G). This implies that the amount of A is equal to T, and the quantity of G is equal to C across the two strands of the DNA double helix.
Therefore, the correct relationships are A = T and C = G. Summing these two correct relationships gives us A + G = T + C. To illustrate, if we have a DNA sequence ATTG on one strand, based on these pairing rules, the corresponding sequence on the other strand will be TAAC.
The equality C + T = A + G would only be valid if C paired with T and A with G, which is not the case. Since adenine pairs with thymine and cytosine pairs with guanine, the equality does not hold true. It is instead the sums within the respective A-T and G-C pairs that are equal, reflecting their one-to-one relationship due to the complementary base-pairing.