Question

Compare the degree of hydrogen bonding in the base pair A-T found in DNA with that in the base pair A-U found in RNA.

Short answer

Question: Compare the degree of hydrogen bonding in A-T (adenine-thymine) base pair found in DNA and A-U (adenine-uracil) base pair found in RNA. Answer: Both A-T and A-U base pairs have the same degree of hydrogen bonding, as each pair forms two hydrogen bonds connecting the two bases together.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the structure of A-T and A-U base pairs

The A-T base pair in DNA comprises adenine and thymine while the A-U base pair in RNA comprises adenine and uracil. Hydrogen bonds are formed between the nitrogen and oxygen atoms of the bases, connecting the two bases together.

Identify the hydrogen bonds in A-T base pair

In the A-T base pair, two hydrogen bonds are formed between the nitrogen atoms on adenine and the oxygen atoms on thymine. Specifically, N1 on adenine forms a hydrogen bond with the O2 on thymine, and N6 on adenine forms a hydrogen bond with the O4 on thymine.

Identify the hydrogen bonds in A-U base pair

In the A-U base pair, also two hydrogen bonds are formed between the nitrogen atoms on adenine and the oxygen atoms on uracil. Specifically, N1 on adenine forms a hydrogen bond with the O4 on uracil, and N6 on adenine forms a hydrogen bond with the O2 on uracil.

Compare the degree of hydrogen bonding in A-T and A-U base pairs

Upon comparing the hydrogen bonds in A-T and A-U base pairs, we concluded that both base pairs have the same degree of hydrogen bonding as each pair forms two hydrogen bonds connecting the two bases together. The difference between these base pairs is not in the degree of hydrogen bonding, but in the presence of thymine in DNA and uracil in RNA, which have slightly different structures and chemical properties.