A single human cell encloses about 1.5 meters of DNA containing 4.5 billion base pairs. How far apart are these base pairs in the DNA?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The distance between two neighboring base pairs in DNA is approximately 0.34 nanometers (nm). Therefore, the 4.5 billion base pairs in a single human cell's DNA would be spaced out over a length of approximately 1.5 meters (1.5 x 10^9 nm). To calculate the distance between neighboring base pairs, we simply divide the length of the DNA by the number of base pairs: 
1.5 x 10^9 nm ÷ 4.5 x 10^9 = 0.34 nm. Thus, the answer is E.

A Single Human Cell Encloses About 1