Humber Admissions Practice Test

What is the role of adenine in nucleic acids?

1. It acts as a sugar component

2. It serves as a nitrogenous base that pairs with other bases

3. It is a type of phosphate group

4. It is one of the four main amino acids

The correct answer is: It serves as a nitrogenous base that pairs with other bases

Adenine plays a crucial role in nucleic acids as a nitrogenous base. In the structure of DNA and RNA, adenine pairs specifically with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA through hydrogen bonds. This base pairing is fundamental to the formation of the double helix structure in DNA and is critical for the accurate replication and transcription processes that underlie genetic information flow in cells. The pairing mechanism ensures that the genetic code is maintained and properly translated during protein synthesis. Thus, adenine's function is vital for cellular processes and the overall regulation of genetic expression, affirming its importance in the structure and function of nucleic acids. Other options refer to components that do not accurately describe adenine's role, such as sugars or phosphate groups, which are separate entities involved in the overall structure of nucleic acids, but not in the definition of adenine itself.