Hydrogen bonding between guanine (G) and cytosine (C) is a type of weak chemical bond that forms between the nitrogen-hydrogen (N-H) bond in the ring structure of guanine and the nitrogen-hydrogen (N-H) bond in the ring structure of cytosine. This hydrogen bonding helps to stabilize the double helix structure of DNA.
In the replication of DNA, this hydrogen bonding between G and C is critical because it helps to ensure that the two complementary strands of DNA separate and serve as templates for the synthesis of new complementary strands. During replication, the hydrogen bonds between G and C break, allowing the two complementary strands to separate and expose their individual nitrogenous bases to be used as a template for the synthesis of new complementary strands by DNA polymerase enzymes.
In summary, the hydrogen bonding between G and C in DNA plays a crucial role in ensuring the stability of the double helix structure of DNA and in the replication of DNA by facilitating the separation of complementary strands and serving as a template for the synthesis of new complementary strands.