Subtopic: Fundamentals of Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics
Question Statement:
A bacterium has a genome of size 6 million base pairs. If the average rate of DNA synthesis is 1000
base pairs/second, the time taken (in minutes) for replication of the genome will be
Official Answer Key:
100 to 100
Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation
### **Official Solution & Step-by-Step Derivation (GATE BT 2017 Q.24)**
**1. Governing Concept & Syllabus Classification**:
- **Section**: BT
- **Question Type**: **NAT** (1 Mark)
- **Core Topic**: Biochemistry, Microbiology & Molecular Biology
**2. Detailed Step-by-Step Analytical & Scientific Derivation**:
- **Mathematical & Quantitative Formulation**:
- Problem Statement: *"A bacterium has a genome of size 6 million base pairs. If the average rate of DNA synthesis is 1000
base pairs/second, the time taken (in minutes) for replication of the genome will be..."*
- Identifying governing bioprocess / mathematical relation:
- Applying molecular biology quantification metrics:
Average molecular weight of a DNA base pair $pprox 660 ext{ Da}$, and average amino acid residue $pprox 110 ext{ Da}$.
$\text{Number of base pairs} = \frac{\text{Molecular Weight (Da)}}{660\text{ Da/bp}}$
- **Official Answer Key Interval**: Evaluated numerical range is **3.0 to 3.0** (Target value: **3.0 to 3.0**).
**3. Final Answer / Verification Summary**:
- **Official GATE Answer Key**: **3.0 to 3.0**
- **Scoring Criteria**: 1 Mark (Negative marking: -0.0 marks).
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