Answer to Question #93378 in Biochemistry for Kylie

Question

Explain what is meant by melting temperature (Tm) of DNA.

Answer 1

Melting temperature is the temperature, when one half of DNA molecules have separated strands.

Melting temperature of DNA molecule depends on the percentage of GC pairs in its composition, because they have three hydrogen bonds, which require greater energy input for their separation compared to two hydrogen bonds between A and T.