What is the double-stranded molecule that carries genetic information and is held together by hydrogen bonds between complementary bases?

Prepare for the Biological Anthropology Exam. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your test!

Multiple Choice

What is the double-stranded molecule that carries genetic information and is held together by hydrogen bonds between complementary bases?

Explanation:
DNA is the double-stranded molecule that carries genetic information and is held together by hydrogen bonds between complementary bases. It forms a stable double helix, with adenine pairing with thymine and cytosine pairing with guanine, and the two strands running in opposite directions. Hydrogen bonds are strong enough to keep the strands together but weak enough to allow separation during replication and transcription, which is essential for passing and activating genetic information. The sequence of bases encodes genes and regulatory elements, providing the blueprint for an organism’s traits and functions. The other options don’t fit: a nucleotide is a single building block, RNA is usually single-stranded and serves different roles, and proteins do not store genetic information.

DNA is the double-stranded molecule that carries genetic information and is held together by hydrogen bonds between complementary bases. It forms a stable double helix, with adenine pairing with thymine and cytosine pairing with guanine, and the two strands running in opposite directions. Hydrogen bonds are strong enough to keep the strands together but weak enough to allow separation during replication and transcription, which is essential for passing and activating genetic information. The sequence of bases encodes genes and regulatory elements, providing the blueprint for an organism’s traits and functions. The other options don’t fit: a nucleotide is a single building block, RNA is usually single-stranded and serves different roles, and proteins do not store genetic information.

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