Question

Can a DNA strand bind to a complementary RNAstrand? Explain.

Short answer

Yes, a DNA strand can bind to a complementary RNA strand through the process of nucleic acid hybridization. This occurs because the base pairing rules allow adenine in DNA to pair with uracil in RNA, and cytosine to pair with guanine, following Watson-Crick base pairs.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding DNA and RNA

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) and RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) are both nucleic acids that are involved in the genetic information storage and transfer processes. DNA consists of a double helix structure, while RNA is single-stranded. The main difference between DNA and RNA is the sugar molecule they contain - DNA has a deoxyribose sugar, whereas RNA has a ribose sugar. Another difference is the type of nitrogenous bases present in each molecule. DNA has Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C), and Guanine (G) whereas RNA has Adenine (A), Uracil (U), Cytosine (C), and Guanine (G).

Base Pairing Rules

In the process of binding between DNA and RNA strands, specific pairs of nucleotides bind to each other following base pairing rules. Generally, Adenine (A) pairs with Thymine (T) in DNA, or Uracil (U) in RNA, and Cytosine (C) pairs with Guanine (G). These are known as Watson-Crick base pairs.

DNA-RNA Hybridization

DNA-RNA hybridization, also known as nucleic acid hybridization, is the process in which a single-stranded DNA molecule (ssDNA) binds to a complementary single-stranded RNA molecule (ssRNA). This can occur because the base pairing between adenine and uracil in RNA is similar to the base pairing between adenine and thymine in DNA.

Conclusion

Yes, a DNA strand can bind to a complementary RNA strand through nucleic acid hybridization. This is possible due to the base pairing rules that allow adenine in DNA to pair with uracil in RNA, while cytosine and guanine pair as usual according to Watson-Crick base pairs.