Total number of base pairs in human chromosome:
**Core Concept**
Human chromosomes are composed of DNA, which is a double-stranded helix of nucleotides. Each nucleotide is made up of a sugar molecule, a phosphate group, and one of four nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). The total number of base pairs in a chromosome is determined by the length of the chromosome and the average number of base pairs per nucleotide.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The human genome is estimated to contain approximately 3.2 billion base pairs. This number is based on the total length of the human genome, which is approximately 3.2 billion base pairs. The average number of base pairs per nucleotide is 1.5, which is calculated by dividing the total number of base pairs by the total number of nucleotides. This number is used to estimate the total number of base pairs in a chromosome.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is not provided.
**Option B:** This option is not provided.
**Option C:** This option is not provided.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
It's worth noting that the human genome is estimated to contain approximately 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes, which is a relatively small number compared to the total number of base pairs. This highlights the complexity and redundancy of the human genome.
**Correct Answer:** C. 3.2 billion