1. What is DNA Molecular Mass?

DNA molecular mass is the sum of the atomic masses of all atoms in a DNA molecule. It's calculated by adding up the molecular weights of each nucleotide in the sequence. This value is important for various molecular biology applications.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the following formula:

Where:

• \( MW \) — Molecular weight in g/mol
• \( base\_masses \) — Array of nucleotide molecular weights

Base Molecular Weights:

• Adenine (A): 313.21 g/mol
• Thymine (T): 304.20 g/mol
• Cytosine (C): 289.18 g/mol
• Guanine (G): 329.21 g/mol

3. Importance of DNA Molecular Mass

Details: Knowing the molecular mass of DNA is crucial for PCR setup, gel electrophoresis, DNA quantification, and other molecular biology techniques where precise measurements are required.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter a DNA sequence containing only A, T, C, or G characters (case insensitive). The calculator will sum the molecular weights of each nucleotide in the sequence.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Does this include the phosphate backbone?
A: Yes, the molecular weights include the complete nucleotide (base + sugar + phosphate).

Q2: What about single-stranded vs double-stranded DNA?
A: This calculator provides the molecular weight for single-stranded DNA. For double-stranded, multiply by 2 and subtract the weight of water molecules lost during bond formation.

Q3: Are these values for dehydrated nucleotides?
A: Yes, these are anhydrous molecular weights. For hydrated forms, additional calculations would be needed.

Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: This provides a theoretical molecular weight based on average atomic masses. For precise work, consider isotopic distributions.

Q5: Can I use this for RNA sequences?
A: No, this calculator is for DNA only. RNA has different molecular weights (U instead of T, and slightly different sugar structure).