Question

What would be the molar concentration of human DNA in a human cell? Consult your teacher.

Answer 1

The molar concentration of human DNA in a human cell can vary depending on the type of cell and its ploidy (number of sets of chromosomes). However, on average, the amount of DNA per diploid human cell is about 6 picograms (pg) or 6x10^-12 grams. The molecular weight of one base pair of DNA is approximately 660 daltons, and the haploid human genome contains approximately 3 billion base pairs. Therefore, the molar concentration of human DNA in a human cell can be calculated as:

(6 pg) / (660 g/mol x 3x10^9 bp) = 3.03x10^-19 M

This is a very small concentration, reflecting the fact that DNA is a macromolecule with a very high molecular weight.