base pair: (synonym: bp) Two nitrogenous bases paired together in double-stranded DNA by weak bonds; specific pairing of these bases (adenine with thymine and guanine with cytosine) facilitates accurate DNA replication; when quantified (e.g., 8 bp), refers to the physical length of a sequence of nucleotides

Double-stranded DNA showing specific pairing
of the base pairs G and C, A and T

Posted: 10-1-02