Question

Now can you predict nucleotide quantities in a hypothetical scenario with more than four different types of nucleotides? An alien species was discovered that has DNA comprised of 6 different bases: G binds to C; A binds to T: and X binds to Y. Approximately 16% of this alien genome is comprised of nucleotides containing C, and 22% is comprised of nucleotides containing Y. Given this information, calculate the percentage of the alien genome that is comprised of nucleotides containing G, T, A, and X. (a) _____% of the alien genome is comprised of G. (b) _____% of the alien genome is comprised of T. (c) _____% of the alien genome is comprised of A. (d) _____% of the alien genome is comprised of X.

Answer 1

Answer:

16% is G

12% is T

12%is A

22% is X

Explanation:

Given that each nucleotide is complimentary to another nucleotide, there cannot be more of one than the other. For example, C bonds to G, so there cannot be more C than G, because there would be nothing for it to bond to.

So if there is approximately 16% of the genome composed of C, that would mean that approximately 16% is composed of G (for it to bond to).

The same logic can be used to determine the amount of nucleotide X is present. If Y binds to X, and approximately 22% is composed of nucleotide Y, then the same percentage can be given to nucleotide X, and say the amount of X is 22%.

Now all of the nucleotides have to add up to 100%, so:

A + T + G + C + X + Y = 100%

A + T + (16%) + (16%) + (22%) + (22%) = 100%

A + T = 24%

Given that A binds to T, they must be equal to each other, hence we can say that the concentration of A, equals the concentration of T.

Therefore, the concentration of A is 12%, and the concentration of T is also 12%.