Question

Calculate the weight of DNA (in grams) contained in the nuclear genome of a human sperm cell. Assume the G/C content is 41%. Show your calculations.

Answer 1

Current estimate of nuclear haploid size of human genome is 3,031,042,417 base pairs for X gamete and 2,932,228,937 base pairs for Y gamete .

In the given question we have to assume GC content is 41% . So we will consider sperm cell , with Y gamete , it is hapolid , as we cannot consider sperm cell with X gamete because it will have GC content 40%

So, a sperm cell with Y gamete being haploid, has 2,932,228,937 base pairs and density is 977.9564 (mega base pair / picogram) , so by putting the formula Density = mass/volume

We get the mass of Y gamete in sperm cell will be , 2.998323 picogram , that will be 2.993 * 10^-12 grams.