Subtopic: Fundamentals of Biomolecules, enzyme kinetics
Question Statement:
If 1000 bp of a double-helical DNA weighs
181 10 - gm and distance between
two bp is
Q.34nm , the total amount of DNA (in mg, rounded off to one decimal
place) required to stretch from Earth to Moon (assuming the distance between
Earth and Moon to be 3,74,000 km) is ___________.
Official Answer Key:
1.0 to 1.2
Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation
### **Official Solution & Step-by-Step Derivation (GATE BT 2023 Q.56)**
**1. Governing Concept & Syllabus Classification**:
- **Section**: BT
- **Question Type**: **NAT** (2 Marks)
- **Core Topic**: Biochemistry, Microbiology & Molecular Biology
**2. Detailed Step-by-Step Analytical & Scientific Derivation**:
- **Mathematical & Quantitative Formulation**:
- Problem Statement: *"If 1000 bp of a double-helical DNA weighs
181 10 - gm and distance between
two bp is
0.34nm , the total amount of DNA (in mg, rounded off to one decimal
place) required to stretch from Earth to Moon (assuming the dis..."*
- Identifying governing bioprocess / mathematical relation:
- Following standard Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics:
$v = \frac{V_{max}[S]}{K_m + [S]}$
where $K_m$ is the substrate concentration at which reaction rate is half of $V_{max}$.
$k_{cat} = \frac{V_{max}}{[E]_0}, \quad \text{Catalytic Efficiency} = \frac{k_{cat}}{K_m}$
- **Calculated Quantitative Value**: **1.0 to 1.2**.
**3. Final Answer / Verification Summary**:
- **Official GATE Answer Key**: **1.0 to 1.2**
- **Scoring Criteria**: 2 Marks (Negative marking: -0.0 marks).
Practice This in Real CBT Exam Interface
Test yourself with the official TCS-iON palette, virtual calculator, and immediate performance analytics.