Question:

A DNA strand has a length with 12 full turns. Then identify the number of Nitrogen bases in total

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Always distinguish between "base pairs" and "individual nitrogen bases".
Total nitrogen bases = \( 2 \times \text{number of base pairs} \).
Updated On: Jul 22, 2026
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks us to calculate the total number of nitrogenous bases in a double-stranded DNA molecule that contains exactly 12 complete helical turns.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
We use the structural parameters of standard B-DNA:
1 complete helical turn contains exactly 10 base pairs (bp).
Each base pair consists of 2 nitrogenous bases.
Therefore, the number of nitrogenous bases per turn is: \[ \text{Bases per turn} = 10 \times 2 = 20 \]

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

• Standard double-helical DNA (B-DNA) described by Watson and Crick contains 10 nucleotide base pairs per complete pitch/turn of the helix.

• Since a base pair involves two complementary bases (one on each strand, e.g., Adenine-Thymine or Guanine-Cytosine), a single base pair consists of 2 individual nitrogenous bases.

• Therefore, 1 turn of the DNA contains: \[ 10 \text{ base pairs} \times 2 = 20 \text{ nitrogenous bases} \]

• Given that the DNA strand has 12 full turns, we calculate the total number of nitrogenous bases as follows: \[ \text{Total bases} = 12 \text{ turns} \times 20 \text{ bases per turn} \] \[ \text{Total bases} = 240 \]

Step 4: Final Answer:
The total number of nitrogenous bases in a DNA strand with 12 full turns is 240.
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