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If you are asking why G must pair with C and A must pair with T it is because of the their size differences. Two of them are pyrines and two are pyramidines, this means that 2 are larger and 2 are smaller. In order for the double helix to be consistent they must pair with each other in order to create the helix.

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Q: Why are GC and AT the only base pairs permissible in the double helix?
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Related questions

How the use of bonds holds the double helix together?

Generally hydrogen bonds between the different base pairs holds the double helix together.


What was so groundbreaking about the double part of the double helix molecule?

it suggested that information could be contained in both strands of the helix and that this information was related by base pairs


What is the name of the twisted ladder shape of a DNA molecule?

nitrogenous bases linked together


What are thymines?

Thymine is a nitrogen base that is wound up inside the double helix of DNA. It pairs with Adenine.


What is structure of DNA?

DNA is a double helix formed by base pairs attached to a sugar-phosphate backbone.


What are the rules for binding on the double helix?

the DNA base pairs must be compliment and the strand must be exact opposite of the other.


How do you describe the shape of the structure of DNA?

It takes the form of a double helix. Basically it looks like a twisted ladder.


How are DNA molecules bound together to form a double helix?

The DNA strands are held together by hydrogen bonds between complimentary base pairs.


What is a description of the building block of DNA'?

It is form of a double helix with a backbone of a sugar-phosphate. The base contains pairs of Adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine.


Which fact is most important in explaining why wrong base pairs are rarely incorporated into the double helix?

Nucleotide pairing affects the action of DNA polymerase.


What do all DNA molecules have in common?

- It is double stranded - all have base pairing like Adenine always pairs with Thymine and Guanine always pairs with Cytosine - they have dioxyribose instead of ribose


What base is always opposite guanine?

In a regular watson-crick double helix base pairing DNA, guanine always pairs opposite cytosine. However this rule holds good only for double helical DNA, as, it is seen in tRNA that guanine (in the anticodon) pairs with cytosine as well as uracil of the corresponding codon in mRNA.