JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3bm159
Two 20-base-pair DNA duplexes are compared. Duplex P has 35% G-C pairs and duplex Q has 65% G-C pairs (A-T = 2 and G-C = 3 hydrogen bonds). Which statement is correct?
AQ has 53 hydrogen bonds against 47 for P, so Q melts at the higher temperature
BP has 53 hydrogen bonds against 47 for Q, so P melts at the higher temperature
CBoth have 50 hydrogen bonds, so they melt at the same temperature
DQ has 53 hydrogen bonds against 47 for P, but P melts at the higher temperature
Answer: A
P has 7 G-C and 13 A-T pairs: 7×3+13×2=47. Q has 13 G-C and 7 A-T pairs: 13×3+7×2=53. More hydrogen bonds raise the melting temperature, so Q melts higher.