G/C Percentage Calculator

Calculate G/C Percentage





Formula

The formula to calculate the G/C Percentage is:

\[ \text{GC%} = \left( \frac{G + C}{N} \right) \times 100 \]

Where:

What is G/C Percentage?

The G/C percentage, also known as GC content, is a measure of the proportion of guanine (G) and cytosine (C) bases in a DNA or RNA molecule. It is an important parameter in molecular biology, genetics, and bioinformatics because it can influence the stability of the DNA double helix, the melting temperature of the DNA, and the overall structure of the genetic material. A higher G/C percentage generally indicates a more stable DNA molecule due to the stronger hydrogen bonding between guanine and cytosine compared to adenine and thymine.

Example Calculation

Let's assume the following values:

Using the formula to calculate the G/C Percentage:

\[ \text{GC%} = \left( \frac{300 + 200}{1000} \right) \times 100 = \left( \frac{500}{1000} \right) \times 100 = 50\% \]

The G/C Percentage is 50%.