Between guanine and cytosine, how many hydrogen bonds are present?

Guanine and cytosine, which are nitrogenous bases found in nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA, pair together through hydrogen bonding in a specific way. In the case of guanine and cytosine, there are three hydrogen bonds that form between them. This trio of hydrogen bonds stabilizes the base pairing and contributes to the overall structure of DNA, making it more thermodynamically stable than pairs linked by fewer hydrogen bonds.

This triad of hydrogen bonds requires specific orientation and pairing of the functional groups on both guanine and cytosine, allowing for complementary base pairing to occur effectively. Understanding this relationship is crucial in the context of genetics and molecular biology, as it underpins the accurate replication of DNA and the integrity of genetic information.