base pair

¹base pair

noun \-ˈpa(ə)r, -ˈpe(ə)r\

Definition of BASE PAIR

: one of the pairs of nucleotide bases on complementary strands of nucleic acid that consist of a purine on one strand joined to a pyrimidine on the other strand by hydrogen bonds holding together the two strands much like the rungs of a ladder and that include adenine linked to thymine in DNA or to uracil in RNA and guanine linked to cytosine in both DNA and RNA

Illustration of BASE PAIR