nmdcat.online
BIO NMDCAT BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES
nmdcat.online June 27, 2026

The double helix of DNA is stabilized by hydrogen bonds between bases, but the primary force driving its formation in water is

A. The hydrophobic interactions between stacked base pairs
✓
B. The strong covalent bonds in the sugar-phosphate backbone
C. The ionic repulsion between the phosphate groups
D. The van der Waals forces between the sugar moieties

📝 Explanation

While hydrogen bonds provide specificity, the planar, non-polar nitrogenous bases "stack" together via hydrophobic interactions to minimize their exposure to water. This base stacking is a major thermodynamic driving force for the stabilization of the DNA double helix.

📖 Additional Information

  • The hydrophobic interactions between stacked base pairs
  • The strong covalent bonds in the sugar-phosphate backbone
  • The ionic repulsion between the phosphate groups
  • The van der Waals forces between the sugar moieties

While hydrogen bonds provide specificity, the planar, non-polar nitrogenous bases "stack" together via hydrophobic interactions to minimize their exposure to water. This base stacking is a major thermodynamic driving force for the stabilization of the DNA double helix.

🔗 Share This Question

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

🧭 Navigate Questions

Previous Question

A cofactor that is tightly and permanently bound to its apoenzyme is referred to as a

Next Question

Concerning the structure of triglycerides, a fat that is liquid at room temperature is expected to contain a high proportion of

Back to All Questions

🔗 Related MCQs

An increase in the incidence of ectopic pregnancies within a population can often be epidemiologically correlated with a prior increase in the prevalence of which sexually transmitted disease?
July 16, 2026
In the life cycle of Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2), the virus travels along nerve fibers to reach the sensory ganglia. The cellular mechanism responsible for this retrograde transport utilizes:
July 16, 2026
A defining characteristic of the lesions associated with the secondary stage of syphilis is that they:
July 16, 2026
The causative agent of genital herpes, HSV-2, is enveloped. The biological significance of this viral envelope in the context of transmission is that it makes the virus:
July 16, 2026
The structural basis for the severe cardiovascular complications seen in tertiary syphilis, such as aortic aneurysms, is the chronic inflammation and destruction of:
July 16, 2026

Categories

View all →