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Multiple Choice
Cytosine (C) makes up 42% of the nucleotides in a sample of DNA from an organism. Approximately what percentage of the nucleotides in this sample will be thymine (T)?
A
8%
B
16%
C
21%
D
60%
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the base pairing rules in DNA: Cytosine (C) pairs with Guanine (G), and Adenine (A) pairs with Thymine (T). This means the percentage of C will equal the percentage of G, and the percentage of A will equal the percentage of T.
Given that Cytosine (C) makes up 42% of the nucleotides, it implies that Guanine (G) also makes up 42% of the nucleotides. Therefore, the combined percentage of C and G is 42% + 42% = 84%.
Since the total percentage of all nucleotides must equal 100%, calculate the remaining percentage for Adenine (A) and Thymine (T) by subtracting the percentage of C and G from 100%.
Perform the subtraction: 100% - 84% = 16%. This remaining percentage is shared equally between Adenine (A) and Thymine (T) because they pair together.
Conclude that the percentage of Thymine (T) in the sample is 16%, as it is half of the remaining percentage after accounting for Cytosine (C) and Guanine (G).