What are the base pairing rules for RNA?

What are the base pairing rules for RNA?

• A. A pairs with U, C pairs with G
• B. A pairs with T, C pairs with G
• C. A pairs with C, G pairs with U
• D. A pairs with U, C pairs with T

Answer: (A)

In RNA, base pairing follows Watson-Crick rules with adenine pairing to uracil and cytosine pairing to guanine. Thymine isn’t used in RNA, so A pairs with U instead of T. These pairings are stabilized by hydrogen bonds—A-U typically forms two bonds, while C-G forms three. This is different from DNA, which uses A with T; RNA’s Uracil replaces thymine. So the pairing pattern for RNA is A-U and C-G.

In RNA, base pairing follows Watson-Crick rules with adenine pairing to uracil and cytosine pairing to guanine. Thymine isn’t used in RNA, so A pairs with U instead of T. These pairings are stabilized by hydrogen bonds—A-U typically forms two bonds, while C-G forms three. This is different from DNA, which uses A with T; RNA’s Uracil replaces thymine. So the pairing pattern for RNA is A-U and C-G.