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Which of the following statements regarding a DNA double helix is true?

A) The two strands are parallel to each other.
B) Adenine pairs with guanine through hydrogen bonds.
C) The structure is a single-stranded helix.
D) The backbone is composed of sugar-phosphate-sugar-phosphate.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The true statement about a DNA double helix is that the backbone is composed of sugar-phosphate-sugar-phosphate chains.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement regarding a DNA double helix is D) The backbone is composed of sugar-phosphate-sugar-phosphate. In the DNA double helix, the two strands are anti-parallel, not parallel as stated in option A. This means they run in opposite directions relative to each other.

Adenine does not pair with guanine; it pairs with thymine through two hydrogen bonds, while guanine pairs with cytosine through three hydrogen bonds, which contradicts option B. Lastly, the structure of DNA is a double helix, not a single-stranded helix, so option C is also incorrect.

User Bob Flannigon
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