Covering All the Bases in Genetics: Simple Shorthands and Diagrams for Teaching Base Pairing to Biology Undergraduates †
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Author:
Sergei Kuchin1
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Published 19 May 2011
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†Supplemental material available at http://jmbe.asm.org
- *Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 3209 N. Maryland Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53211. Phone: (414) 229-3135. Fax: (414) 229-3926. E-mail: [email protected].
- Copyright © 2011, American Society for Microbiology
Abstract:
Explaining base pairing is an important element in teaching undergraduate genetics. I propose a teaching approach that aims to close the gap between the mantra “A pairs with T, and G pairs with C” and the “intimidating” chemical diagrams. The approach offers a set of simple “shorthands” for the key bases that can be used to quickly deduce all canonical and wobble pairs that the students need to know. The approach can be further developed to analyze mutagenic mismatch pairing.
References & Citations
Supplemental Material
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Appendix: Analysis of Mutagenic Effects of Base Tautomerization and Deamination.
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MyBook is a cheap paperback edition of the original book and will be sold at uniform, low price.
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Abstract:
Explaining base pairing is an important element in teaching undergraduate genetics. I propose a teaching approach that aims to close the gap between the mantra “A pairs with T, and G pairs with C” and the “intimidating” chemical diagrams. The approach offers a set of simple “shorthands” for the key bases that can be used to quickly deduce all canonical and wobble pairs that the students need to know. The approach can be further developed to analyze mutagenic mismatch pairing.

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Author and Article Information
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Published 19 May 2011
-
†Supplemental material available at http://jmbe.asm.org
- *Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 3209 N. Maryland Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53211. Phone: (414) 229-3135. Fax: (414) 229-3926. E-mail: [email protected].
- Copyright © 2011, American Society for Microbiology
Figures
Derivation of the shorthands. Each shorthand represents the one-letter base name followed by the list of atoms participating in hydrogen bonding. Only the standard pairing faces of the bases are shown.

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FIGURE 1
Derivation of the shorthands. Each shorthand represents the one-letter base name followed by the list of atoms participating in hydrogen bonding. Only the standard pairing faces of the bases are shown.
Regular Watson-Crick and wobble pairs: Watson-Crick pairs (a); Wobble pairs (b). Dotted lines represent hydrogen bonds. PU = purine; PY = pyrimidine.

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FIGURE 2
Regular Watson-Crick and wobble pairs: Watson-Crick pairs (a); Wobble pairs (b). Dotted lines represent hydrogen bonds. PU = purine; PY = pyrimidine.
Additional wobble pairs: Pairing diagrams (a); Pairing configurations for two consecutive UU pairs in stem 1 of yeast U2 snRNA (b). Dotted lines represent hydrogen bonds. PU = purine; PY = pyrimidine.

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FIGURE 3
Additional wobble pairs: Pairing diagrams (a); Pairing configurations for two consecutive UU pairs in stem 1 of yeast U2 snRNA (b). Dotted lines represent hydrogen bonds. PU = purine; PY = pyrimidine.