How many base pairs within DNA go up to make 99.9% of life on the planet earth?
It’s either 4 groups of 2 base pairs or 3 billion, not quite sure which.
What?
I have a degree in microbiology and I’m not sure what you’re asking. There are four nucleotides that make up almost all of the DNA on the planet - A, T, C, and G. I’ll spare you the full names.
A pairs with T, and C pairs with G, thus making a base pair.
There are a tiny handful of obscure organisms that have slight modifications to this system.
The total number of base pairs of DNA differs based on the organism. DNA is composed of two complementary strands. Binding of individual nucleotides between these strands makes up the so-called base pairs. So, you might have one strand sequence reading agggcctagttccag. One can determine what the opposite strand is by the fact that A always pairs with T, and G always pairs with C. The total sequence length is commonly referred to as the number of base pairs present.
An organism’s genome size is measured this way, and it varies considerably across species. Humans contain about 3 billion base pairs in their genome.
I’d basically agree with Smeghead.
DNA is a double stranded molecule that “can run in both directions” so it’s not “4 groups of 2 base pairs” .
A pairs with T and G pairs with C; don’t be confused by reading the opposite strand where T pairs with A and C pairs with G–it’s all the same thing.
DNA is called a [and is] double helix.
Reading the ‘alphabet’ of one strand versus another in different directions dosen’t change the base pairing between nucleotides.
In Bacteria, or in mitochondria and chloroplasts–the ‘code’ might differ slightly–but the princible is constant
3 billion base pairs probably represents the SIZE of the genome you’re asking about, not the genetic code.
So the correct answer would be 2 base pairs?
I still can’t for the life of me figure out what you’re asking, so sure! Go with 2.
4 nucleotide “groups” (A, G, C, T), and 2 types of base pairs (A-T, G-C). That would be about right, but it is a strange way to phrase a question…
3 billion would be the number of base pairs present in the DNA, or the size of the genome of an organism. It varies depending on species, with some having some thousand base pairs and others having billions of base pairs.
I am confused by the question as well
Sorry, but it’s not my question, that’s why I haven’t been able to find a definite answer.
Is there any form of life that doesn’t consist of DNA (the remaining 0.1%)?
In any sequence of DNA, C-G is different from C-G and A-T is different from T-A. They are not interchageable.
However, when you say that, “There are a tiny handful of obscure organisms that have slight modifications to this system.” you raise my curiosity. Exactly what modifications are possible?
Some viruses (if they are considered life, that is) use RNA as their genetic material. These forms use uracil (U), instead of thymine (T) to pair with A. RNA is present in all other organisms, but not as the primary genetic material.
In a sequence, a C-G pair is different from a G-C pair, but in bond formation and structure they are the same. Same with T-A and A-T.
Exapno: Different modifications to A-T, U-A, G-C can occur in tRNA, but that’s not an organism, that is transfer RNA that is present in all cells.
I’m sure you meant “C-G is different from G-C”, right?
Hey, Steak, where did you get that question? ("How many base pairs within DNA go up to make 99.9% of life on the planet earth?)
To put the question into perspective: How many letters are there in Hamlet? One could argue that there are 26, but one could also argue that there are tens of thousands. If you take the answer to the Hamlet question to be 26, then there are 4 nucleotides in DNA. If you take the answer to the Hamlet question to be tens of thousands, then there are billions of nucleotides.
Steak - if it’s not your question, whose is it? We don’t do people’s homework around here, which is what it’s beginning to sound like to me.
Exapno - There are a very few organisms that use slightly modified bases - maybe an extra hydrogen here, or a methyl group there.
Sigh. Of course I meant C-G and G-C.
And tangentially, the April Scientific American reported that a 22nd amino acid, pyrrolysine, has been found in a methane-producing bacterium. We do keep finding strange little variations among the one-celled set.
You have some viruses, all viroids, and all prions that do not use DNA for genetic material.
Now I am not sure prions can be classified as life per se, but I might as well throw them in. 
This question is part of a montly quiz on a Lord of the Rings-based forum. Not sure what the rules are regarding links on this forum (pm me if you want the address)
I agree that it’s very vague, hoped that you guys could help me. :rolleyes:
How 'bout providing the link to the LOTR question?
I’m still wondering what the intent of the OP was.
If this MB knows what the actual question was, maybe people here could answer it.
I’m new, but I think that is allowed.
I think that the members that deal with the genetic code are saying “huh” after reading to OP.
Unfortunately that’s exactly how the question is phrased:
“How many base pairs within DNA go up to make 99.9% of life on the planet earth?”