1. What is DNA Molecular Weight?

The molecular weight (MW) of a DNA sequence is the sum of the molecular weights of its individual nucleotides. It's an important parameter in molecular biology for applications like PCR, sequencing, and cloning.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• Adenine (A) = 313.21 g/mol
• Thymine (T) = 304.2 g/mol
• Cytosine (C) = 289.18 g/mol
• Guanine (G) = 329.21 g/mol

Explanation: The calculator sums the molecular weights of each base in the sequence to give the total molecular weight.

3. Importance of Molecular Weight Calculation

Details: Knowing the molecular weight is essential for preparing solutions with accurate concentrations, designing primers, and calculating molar ratios for experiments.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the DNA sequence using only A, T, C, or G characters (case insensitive). The sequence should not contain spaces or other characters.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Does this include the molecular weight of water?
A: No, this calculates the molecular weight of the DNA sequence alone, not accounting for hydration.

Q2: What about modified bases?
A: This calculator only handles standard DNA bases (A, T, C, G). Modified bases require special calculations.

Q3: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It provides a theoretical molecular weight based on standard nucleotide masses. Actual experimental values may vary slightly.

Q4: Can I calculate RNA molecular weight?
A: No, this is for DNA only. RNA uses uracil (U) instead of thymine (T) and has slightly different molecular weights.

Q5: What's the average molecular weight per base pair?
A: Approximately 650 g/mol per base pair for double-stranded DNA.