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What kind of chemical bond is found between paired bases of the DNA double helix?

a.hydrogen
b.sulfhydryl
c.ionic
d.phosphate
e.covalent

1 Answer

1 vote

Final answer:

Hydrogen bonds are the type of chemical bond between paired bases of the DNA double helix, specifically connecting adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine.

Step-by-step explanation:

The kind of chemical bond found between paired bases of the DNA double helix is a hydrogen bond. Within the DNA structure, these hydrogen bonds form between the complementary nitrogenous bases located on the interior of the helix, enabling adenine (A) to pair with thymine (T) and guanine (G) to pair with cytosine (C). Specifically, there are two hydrogen bonds connecting A and T, and three connecting G and C.

These hydrogen bonds are crucial as they contribute to the stability and integrity of the DNA's double helix structure. While the hydrogen bonds provide the necessary link between base pairs, it is the phosphodiester bonds that connect the individual nucleotides together within each strand, forming the sugar-phosphate backbone.

Complementary base pairing is a fundamental concept elucidated by Watson and Crick's double helix model, relying on hydrogen bonding according to specific pairing rules. This precise alignment of bases is vital for DNA replication and function.

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