emäsparituksessa

Emäsparituksessa, also known as base pairing, is a fundamental concept in molecular biology, particularly in the context of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA. It refers to the specific, non-covalent interactions between nitrogenous bases of nucleotides. These interactions are highly selective and follow a set of rules, ensuring the accurate transmission of genetic information.

In DNA, adenine (A) always pairs with thymine (T) via two hydrogen bonds, forming an A-T base pair. Guanine (G) always pairs with cytosine (C) through three hydrogen bonds, creating a G-C base pair. This complementary base pairing is crucial for the double helix structure of DNA, where two antiparallel strands are held together by these specific interactions.

In RNA, uracil (U) replaces thymine. Thus, adenine (A) pairs with uracil (U) in RNA, and guanine (G) still pairs with cytosine (C). This principle of complementary base pairing is essential for various biological processes, including DNA replication, transcription (where an RNA molecule is synthesized from a DNA template), and translation (where the genetic code in mRNA is used to synthesize proteins). The fidelity of these base pairing rules ensures the accuracy of genetic information transfer from one generation of molecules to the next, and from DNA to protein.