A sample of human DNA is subjected to increasing temperature until major portion of the sample melts. A small portion of the DNA requires even higher temperature compared to rest of the sample. This may be having higher content of
First, the core concept here is that DNA strands separate when heated, and the temperature at which this happens is called the melting temperature (Tm). The Tm is influenced by the number of hydrogen bonds between the strands.
Now, which base pairs have more hydrogen bonds? Guanine (G) and cytosine (C) form three hydrogen bonds, while adenine (A) and thymine (T) form two. So, DNA with a higher GC content will have a higher melting temperature because those bonds are stronger. If a portion of the DNA sample requires more heat to melt, it must have more GC pairs.
Looking at the options, the correct answer should be related to GC content. The other options might be AT content, which would have a lower Tm. Other distractors could be about nucleotide length or protein binding, but those don't directly affect the melting temperature in this context.
Wait, maybe some options might mention something about DNA being double-stranded or supercoiled. But supercoiling could affect denaturation, but the question specifies a higher temperature, so GC content is the main factor here.
Clinical pearl: Remember that GC-rich regions are harder to denature. This is important in PCR, where primer design considers GC content to ensure proper annealing.
So, the correct answer is the option stating higher GC content. The other options are incorrect because AT pairs have fewer bonds, DNA length might affect the overall Tm but not a specific segment, and proteins might stabilize DNA but aren't mentioned here.
I need to structure the explanation with the specified sections, making sure to explain each part clearly and concisely. Also, check for the character limit and use proper formatting.
**Core Concept**
DNA melting temperature (Tm) depends on the stability of hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs. Guanine-cytosine (G-C) pairs form **three hydrogen bonds**, while adenine-thymine (A-T) pairs form **two**, making G-C-rich regions more thermostable.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The DNA segment requiring higher temperature for denaturation has a **higher G-C content**. The additional hydrogen bond in G-C pairs increases thermal stability, necessitating more energy (heat) to disrupt the double helix. This is a fundamental principle in molecular biology, critical for techniques like PCR and DNA hybridization.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** A-T content reduces melting temperature due to fewer hydrogen bonds.
**Option B:** DNA length affects overall Tm but not localized stability.
**Option C:** Protein binding could stabilize DNA, but the question specifies temperature, not protein interference.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Remember **"G-C pairs = higher Tm"** for NEET/USMLE questions on DNA denaturation. PCR primer design relies on this principle to ensure specific annealing.
**Correct Answer: C. Higher guanine-cytosine (G-C) content**