Question

If two DNA strands of identical length were analyzed, which of the following statements would be true of the melting temperature?

a. The DNA with the greater number of repetitive sequences will melt more slowly (lower T)
b. DNA with high GC content must have a lower T
c. All DNA strands of equal length have equal T
d. DNA with a low AT content would melt more slowly

Answer 1

The melting temperature (Tm) of DNA depends on the length of the strands, but not on the presence of repetitive sequences or GC content.

Step-by-step explanation:

The melting temperature (Tm) of DNA depends on various factors, including the length of the DNA strands, the presence of repetitive sequences, and the GC content. Therefore, among the given statements, statement (c) is true-

All DNA strands of equal length have equal Tm.

The melting temperature is the temperature at which the double-stranded DNA breaks apart or 'melts'. It indicates how tightly the two strands of DNA are able to bind to each other. The presence of repetitive sequences or high GC content can affect the stability of the DNA strands, but it does not determine the melting temperature.