[Campbell Biology P.368] Which of the following statements accurately describes the structur... | Practice Question

Which of the following statements accurately describes the structural properties of the DNA double helix based on the provided information?

  • A: The DNA double helix is left-handed, with a diameter of 2 nm.
  • B: Each full turn of the helix spans 3.4 nm and contains 10 base pairs.
  • C: Adjacent base pairs are separated by 2 nm, and the helix has a diameter of 0.34 nm.
  • D: Hydrogen bonds are responsible for linking nucleotides within a single DNA strand.

Explanation

According to the 'Structural Images' section, one full turn of the DNA helix is 3.4 nm and contains 10 base pairs. The helix is right-handed, and its diameter is 2 nm. Covalent sugar-phosphate bonds link nucleotides within a single strand, while hydrogen bonds hold the two strands together.