Question

What is the size of the human genome?

• A. 3 billion base pairs
• B. 2 billion base pairs
• C. 4 billion base pairs
• D. 6 trillion base pairs

Hint:

The 3 billion base pairs in the human genome provide the complete genetic information needed for building and maintaining the human organism.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The size of the human genome is approximately 3 billion base pairs. This represents the total length of the DNA found in the human genome, which is composed of 23 pairs of chromosomes, each containing a specific set of genes that code for various proteins and functions in the body.

(1) Human Genome:
- The human genome consists of about 3 billion base pairs of DNA, which is equivalent to around 6.4 billion nucleotides.
- These base pairs are composed of four chemical bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T). The order of these bases forms the genetic instructions for an organism.

(2) Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
- 2 billion base pairs (Option 2) and 4 billion base pairs (Option 3) are incorrect because the human genome is closer to 3 billion base pairs.
- 6 trillion base pairs (Option 4) is vastly larger than the actual size of the human genome.

Conclusion: The human genome is composed of 3 billion base pairs, which is the correct estimate of its size.