Chapter 7, Problem 1MC

Which of the following is most likely the number of base pairs in a bacterial chromosome?

1. a. 4,000,000
2. b. 4000
3. c. 400
4. d. 40

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Bacterial cell contains DNA, RNA, and protein. Bacterial cells do not contain nucleus and therefore the nucleic acid is present in the center of the cell in the form of nucleoid region. Chromosome of the bacterial cell contains compact circular DNA associated with bounded proteins.

Answer to Problem 1MC

Correct answer:

$4,000,000$ is the number of base pair present in a bacterial chromosome. Therefore, option (a) is correct.

Option (a) is given as “$4,000,000$”.

Explanation of Solution

Justify reason for the correct statement:

Nucleoid region of the bacterial cell contains circular chromosome. On an average, a bacterial chromosome contain about $4,000,000$ base pairs which are organized into $3000$ genes.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

Justify reasons for the incorrect statements:

Option (b) is given as “$4000$ ”.

Bacterial chromosome comprises of $4,000,000$ base pairs. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option (c) is given as “$400$”.

On an average, $4,000,000$ base pairs are present in a bacterial chromosome. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option (d) is given as “$40$ ”

Bacterial chromosome contains $4,000,000$ base pairs. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Hence, options (b), (c), and (d) are incorrect.

Conclusion

The number of base pair present in a bacterial chromosome is $4,000,000$.