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

To find the distance between base pairs, we need to divide the total length of DNA by the number of base pairs. 
1.5 meters = 1.5 x 10^9 nm
4.5 billion base pairs = 4.5 x 10^9
Distance between base pairs = (1.5 x 10^9 nm) / (4.5 x 10^9) = 0.33 nm = 0.34 nm (rounded to two significant figures)
Therefore, the correct answer is E.

A Single Human Cell Encloses About 1