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Biology 12 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

Why are the strands of a DNA molecule said to be complementary?

thomaster (thomaster):

\(\Huge\bf \color{black}{Welcome~to~OpenStudy!!}\hspace{-310pt}\color{black}{Welcome~to~OpenStudy!!}\hspace{-307.1pt}\color{#ff7100}{Welcome~to~\color{#00B4ff}{\underline{\overline{Open}}}\color{#7cc517}{\underline{\overline{Study!!}}}}\) complementary means to complete. Complementary DNA or cDNA is DNA made from a RNA template. This template has 4 different nucleobases. Each nucleobase can only form a base pair with 1 specific nucleobase. That is why its called complementary, the nucleobases complete eachother to form a basepair. Look at the picture i attached to this anwser. It will help you to understand it.

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