Question

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

Short answer

Yes, a DNA strand can bind to a complementary RNA strand, as they share similar base pairing rules. Adenine (A) in DNA pairs with uracil (U) in RNA, while guanine (G) in DNA pairs with cytosine (C) in RNA. These interactions are crucial for transcription, which transfers genetic information from DNA to RNA for protein synthesis.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding DNA and RNA structure

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid) are both nucleic acids, composed of nucleotide units. The structure of a nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar (deoxyribose in DNA and ribose in RNA), and a phosphate group. The nitrogenous bases found in DNA are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T), while the bases found in RNA are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and uracil (U), with uracil replacing thymine.

Base pairing rules

In DNA, strands bind together due to complementary base pairing, where adenine (A) binds with thymine (T) and cytosine (C) binds with guanine (G). These specific base pairings are due to hydrogen bonding, which can be formed between specific pairs of bases. In RNA, similar base pairings occur, with adenine (A) binding to uracil (U) and cytosine (C) binding to guanine (G).

DNA and RNA binding

A single DNA strand can potentially bind to a complementary RNA strand through similar base pairing rules. The adenine (A) in the DNA strand can pair with uracil (U) in the RNA strand, and guanine (G) in the DNA strand can pair with cytosine (C) in the RNA strand. This type of interaction between a DNA strand and its complementary RNA strand is the basis for the transcription process, where the information encoded in the DNA is transferred to RNA, which in turn is used to synthesize proteins.

Conclusion

Yes, a DNA strand can bind to a complementary RNA strand through specific base pairings, such as adenine (A) with uracil (U) and guanine (G) with cytosine (C). This binding is essential for biological processes like transcription, where genetic information is transferred from the DNA to RNA for protein synthesis.