Suppose a Scientist Working on a New Drug for Cancer

question 5

Multiple Choice

Suppose a scientist working on a new drug for cancer developed a chemical that irreversibly breaks the hydrogen bonds in the DNA molecules within cancerous cells but leaves all of the covalent bonds intact. Hydrogen bonds are relatively weak compared to covalent bonds, and they are routinely broken and reformed as the DNA molecule is replicated in a normal cell. Their stability is nonetheless critical for maintaining certain aspects of the structure and function of the DNA molecule. Based on this scenario and your knowledge of DNA, how would this newly discovered chemical affect the "molecule of heredity" in a human cancer cell?

• A)It would allow the DNA molecule to function normally except during replication.
• B)It would result in constant DNA replication within the cell.
• C)It would break the two strands of the DNA molecule apart, preventing it from functioning normally.
• D)It would break the individual strands of the DNA molecule apart, preventing it from functioning normally.

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Definitions:

Chloroform

Chloroform is a colorless, sweet-smelling organic compound that has been used as a solvent and an anesthetic in the past, now recognized for its environmental and health implications.

Three-dimensional Structure

Refers to the spatial arrangement of atoms in a molecule or complex, establishing its shape.

Dichloroethene

An organochloride compound containing two chlorine atoms attached to a double-bonded carbon structure; used in organic synthesis and as an intermediate in the production of chlorinated solvents.

Molecular Dipole Moment

A measure of the separation of positive and negative electrical charges within a molecule, influencing its polarity and interactions with other molecules.