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Ch.11 Nucleic Acids Big Molecules with a Big Role
Frost - General, Organic and Biological Chemistry 4th Edition
Frost4th EditionGeneral, Organic and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134988696Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 7, Problem 19b

Write the base sequence and label the 3' and 5' ends of the complementary strand for a segment of DNA with the following base sequences:
b. 5'CCCCTTTT3'

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1
Identify the complementary base pairing rules for DNA: Cytosine (C) pairs with Guanine (G), and Thymine (T) pairs with Adenine (A).
Write the complementary strand by replacing each base in the given sequence with its complementary base: C → G, T → A.
Reverse the direction of the complementary strand to ensure it is antiparallel to the original strand. The original strand is 5' to 3', so the complementary strand will be 3' to 5'.
Label the ends of the complementary strand appropriately: the 3' end corresponds to the start of the complementary sequence, and the 5' end corresponds to the end of the complementary sequence.
Combine the complementary bases and their labels to finalize the complementary strand: 3'GGGGAAAA5'.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

DNA Structure

DNA is composed of two strands that form a double helix, with each strand made up of nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The strands are oriented in opposite directions, with one running 5' to 3' and the other 3' to 5'. This antiparallel arrangement is crucial for DNA replication and function.
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Base Pairing Rules

In DNA, nitrogenous bases pair specifically: adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G). This complementary base pairing is essential for the accurate replication of DNA and the transmission of genetic information. Understanding these rules is necessary to determine the complementary strand from a given DNA sequence.
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5' and 3' Ends

The terms 5' (five prime) and 3' (three prime) refer to the carbon numbers in the DNA's sugar backbone. The 5' end has a phosphate group attached to the fifth carbon, while the 3' end has a hydroxyl group attached to the third carbon. Labeling these ends is important for understanding the directionality of DNA strands and how they interact during processes like replication and transcription.
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