Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Watson Crick base pairing is the specific hydrogen bonding between nucleotides on complementary strands of DNA. Adenine pairs with thymine and guanine pairs with cytosine.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Watson-Crick base pairs are essential for the double helix structure of DNA.
Hydrogen bonds between Watson-Crick base pairs provide stability to the DNA structure.
Adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T) through two hydrogen bonds.
Guanine (G) pairs with cytosine (C) through three hydrogen bonds, making this pair more stable than A-T pair.
Errors in Watson-Crick base pairing can lead to mutations during DNA replication.
Review Questions
Related terms
Double Helix: The spiral arrangement of two complementary strands of DNA.
Hydrogen Bond: A weak bond between two molecules resulting from an electrostatic attraction.
Mutation: A change in the nucleotide sequence of an organism's DNA.