Determining the Approximate Percentage of Guanine in a Sample of DNA: An Analysis Based on Base Pairing Rule.

Thymine makes up 28% of the nucleotides in a sample of DNA from an organism. Approximately what percentage of the nucleotides in this sample will be guanine?A) 8% C) 22% B) 16% D) 72%

To determine the approximate percentage of guanine in the sample of DNA, we need to know that DNA is composed of four nucleotides – adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G)

To determine the approximate percentage of guanine in the sample of DNA, we need to know that DNA is composed of four nucleotides – adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). The base pairing rule in DNA states that adenine always pairs with thymine, and cytosine always pairs with guanine.

Since we are given that thymine makes up 28% of the nucleotides, we can infer that adenine also makes up 28% because of the base pairing rule.

The total percentage of adenine and thymine combined is 28% + 28% = 56%.

Since DNA is composed of equal amounts of adenine and thymine (due to their base pairing), they would each make up 50% of the total nucleotides if the sample had an equal ratio (A = T = 50%).

However, we are given that thymine makes up only 28% of the nucleotides. This means that adenine must also make up 28% (since A = T).

To find the percentage of guanine, we subtract the total percentage of adenine and thymine from 100%:

100% – (28% + 28%) = 100% – 56% = 44%

Therefore, approximately 44% of the nucleotides in this sample of DNA will be guanine.

The answer is C) 44%.

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