How many hydrogen bonds are formed between an adenine (A) and its paired nucleotide?

An adenine (A) nucleotide pairs with a thymine (T) nucleotide in DNA, and this pairing is stabilized by two hydrogen bonds. The specific spatial arrangement and the chemical properties of adenine and thymine allow for this interaction. In this base pairing, one hydrogen bond forms between a nitrogen atom in adenine and a nitrogen atom in thymine, while the second hydrogen bond forms between a nitrogen atom in adenine and a hydrogen atom on a methyl group (-CH3) attached to thymine. This pairing is critical in maintaining the structure of the DNA double helix, ensuring that adenine can specifically pair with thymine, which is essential for accurate DNA replication and transcription processes in cells.