If the length of E. coli DNA is 1.36 mm , calculate the number of base pairs in E. coli assuming the distance between two consecutive base pairs is 0.34 nm .

Step-by-step solution

Length of DNA = 1.36 mm = 1.36 10⁻³ m Distance between two consecutive base pairs = 0.34 nm = 0.34 10⁻⁹ m Number of base pairs = Length of DNA Distance between consecutive base pairs = 1.36 10⁻³ 0.34 10⁻⁹ = 4 10^6 Note: While NCERT mentions the actual genome size of E. coli is 4.6 10^6 bp, the calculated value based on the given length of 1.36 mm is 4 10^6 bp. The option 4 10^9 results from incorrectly converting mm to m. Answer: 4 10^6