Question

if the length of E.coli DNA is 1.36mm, calculate the no.of base pairs in E.coli

Answer 1

The distance between two consecutive base pairs is 0.34 X 10^-9m

The total length of double helix DNA in an organism can be calculated by multiplying the total number of base pairs with distance between two consecutive base pairs 

Total length of double helix DNA = total number of base pairs X distance between two consecutive bp

 

Let the total number of bp be x

1.36mm = x X 0.34 X 10^-9m

by solving this we get,

x = 4 X 10^6 bp

So the number of base pairs in given strand of E coli = 4 X 10^6bp

Answer 2

Distance between two consecutive base pair = 0.34 nm

Total length of given DNA = 1.36mm  

∴ total no. of base pair =  1.36mm /0.34nm

⇒ 4 × 10⁶ Base pair.