Both DNA and RNA are synthesized by covalently linking a nucleoside triphosphate to the previous nucleotide, constantly adding to a growing chain.In the case of DNA, the new strand becomes part of a stable helix.The two strands are complementary in sequence and antiparallel in directionality.What is the principal force that holds these two strands together?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The principal force that holds the two strands of DNA together is the hydrogen bond between complementary base pairs. The base pairs are adenine( A ) with thymine( T ) and guanine( G ) with cytosine( C ). Hydrogen bonds form between A and T with two hydrogen bonds, and between G and C with three hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen bonds are weak enough to allow for separation of the strands during replication and transcription, but strong enough to maintain the helical structure of the DNA molecule.

Both DNA and RNA Are Synthesized by Covalently Linking a Nucleoside