Describe the differences between the nucleic acid bases.

The nucleic acid bases differ in their chemical structure and pairing properties.

Nucleic acid bases are the building blocks of DNA and RNA. There are four types of bases in DNA: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). In RNA, thymine is replaced by uracil (U). The bases differ in their chemical structure, with A and G being purines and C, T, and U being pyrimidines. Purines have a double-ring structure, while pyrimidines have a single-ring structure.

The bases also differ in their pairing properties. A pairs with T in DNA and with U in RNA, while G pairs with C. This pairing is based on hydrogen bonding between the bases. A-T and G-C base pairs have different numbers of hydrogen bonds, with A-T having two and G-C having three. This difference in hydrogen bonding contributes to the stability of the DNA double helix.

The bases also differ in their role in genetic information. Changes in the sequence of bases can lead to changes in the amino acid sequence of proteins, which can affect their function. Some bases are more prone to mutation than others, with C being more susceptible to spontaneous mutation than A, G, or T.

In summary, the nucleic acid bases differ in their chemical structure, pairing properties, and role in genetic information. Understanding these differences is important for understanding the structure and function of DNA and RNA.