Why is complementary base pairing important in DNA structure?
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the chemical that carries genetic information in living things. In structure it is a double-helix, resembling a spiral staircase complete with steps. The “steps” consist of complementary base pairs.DNA BasesAll the steps of DNA are made up of only four nitrogen-containing bases, adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine. Each individual step is made up of two bases, one complementing the other.Molecular FrameworkAdenine is a five-member/six-member ring combination. Guanine is another five-member/six-member ring combination. Thymine is a six-member ring. Cytosine is a six-member ring. Each single-ring base couples with a dual-ring base.CouplingSteps in a literal staircase or in a DNA staircase must have uniformly sized steps. This is why each step must combine a dual ring base with a single ring base.Actual PairingAdenosine always couples with thymine (A-T), and guanine always couples with cytosine (G-C). You may wonder why a dual-ring adenosine never comb
