Double stranded DNA virus with 20,000 base pairs has nucleotides

Options

A. 20000
B. 10000
C. 666
D. 40000

Explanation

To determine the number of nucleotides in a double-stranded DNA virus with 20,000 base pairs, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Base Pairs**:
- In double-stranded DNA, a base pair consists of two nitrogenous bases that are complementary to each other. Each base pair is formed by one base from each strand of the DNA.

2. **Identifying Components of a Nucleotide**:
- A nucleotide is made up of three components: a sugar molecule (deoxyribose in DNA), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

3. **Relating Base Pairs to Nucleotides**:
- Each base pair consists of two nucleotides: one from each strand of the DNA. Therefore, for every base pair, there are two nucleotides involved.

4. **Calculating the Total Number of Nucleotides**:
- Given that there are 20,000 base pairs in the virus, we can calculate the total number of nucleotides by multiplying the number of base pairs by 2.
- Total nucleotides = Number of base pairs × 2
- Total nucleotides = 20,000 × 2 = 40,000 nucleotides.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the double-stranded DNA virus with 20,000 base pairs contains a total of 40,000 nucleotides.

### Final Answer:
The double-stranded DNA virus with 20,000 base pairs has **40,000 nucleotides**.

---