The base composition of an RNA virus was analyzed and found

The base composition of an RNA virus was analyzed and found to be 14.1% A, 14.0% U, 36.2% G, and 35.7% C. Would you conclude that the viral genetic material is single-stranded RNA or double-stranded RNA? 2. The genetic material found within some viruses is single-stranded DNA. Would this genetic material contain equal amounts of A and T and equal amounts of G and C?

Solution

1) The base composition of RNA is 14.1% of A, 14.0% of U. 36.2% of G and 35.7% of C. The viral genome is a double stranded RNA, because the viral genome has almost the equal amounts of adenine and uracil bases.

2) No, the genetic material will not contain equal amounts of A and T and equal amounts of G and C for single-stranded DNA viruses.