Dental Admissions Test (DAT) Practice Test

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Prepare for the Dental Admissions Test with our comprehensive quiz! Enhance your knowledge with multiple choice questions designed to simulate the actual DAT experience, complete with hints and detailed explanations. Ace your dental school application!

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Where are the base pairs held together in the DNA molecule?

  1. By hydrogen bonds

  2. By covalent bonds

  3. By ionic bonds

  4. By metallic bonds

The correct answer is: By hydrogen bonds

In the DNA molecule, the base pairs are held together by hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen bonds form between specific nitrogenous bases in the DNA double helix; for example, adenine pairs with thymine via two hydrogen bonds, while cytosine pairs with guanine using three hydrogen bonds. These hydrogen bonds are relatively weak compared to covalent bonds but are essential for maintaining the structure of the DNA molecule and allowing for its replication and transcription processes to occur accurately. Covalent bonds, ionic bonds, and metallic bonds do not play a significant role in holding the base pairs together in the DNA molecule.

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