Question

Please answer neatly and please remember this is grade 12 biology!! Thank you

The average length of a nucleotide is 0.34 X 10 ^-9 m and there are 6 X 10⁹ base pairs in a human diploid cell. If there are approximately 5.0 X 10¹³ cells in a mature human and the distance to the sun is approximately 1.5 X 10¹¹ m, determine how many times the DNA from one human could reach the sun and return. Show the math for full marks.

Answer 1

The average length of a nucleotide = 0.34 X 10-9 m

No. of base pairs in a human diploid cell = 6 X 109

Total number of cells in a mature human = 5.0 X 1013 (approx.)

Distance that can be covered if the DNA from all cells is opened up from end to end = (0.34 X 10-9) X (6 X 109) X (5.0 X 1013) = 1.7 X 1013 m.

Distance between the sun and earth = 1.5 X 1011

Since we have to travel back the actual distance = 2 X 1.5 X 1011 = 3 X 1011

Therefore, the required number of times the DNA from one human could reach the sun and return = (1.7 X 1013 ) / (3 X 1011) = 56.67

Since, the question has asked for the number of times we can reach the sun and return, it should be a whole number and the answer should be just 56 ignoring the decimal point.