The specific
association between two complementary strands of
nucleic acids that results from the formation of hydrogen bonds between the base components of the
nucleotides of each strand: A=T and G=C in
DNA, A=U and G=C (and sometimes G=U) in
RNA (the lines indicate the number of hydrogen bonds). Single-stranded nucleic acid molecules can adopt a partially double-stranded structure through intrastrand base pairing.
Source:
PAC, 1992, 64, 143
(Glossary for chemists of terms used in biotechnology (IUPAC Recommendations 1992))
on page 147
PAC, 1993, 65, 2003
(Glossary for chemists of terms used in toxicology (IUPAC Recommendations 1993))
on page 2017
