8.

Double-helical DNA molecules are stabilized in aqueous solution by

• a. interstrand charge interactions between phosphate residues on the two strands.
• b. hydrophobic stacking of bases in the interior of the helix.
• c. ionic interactions between base pairs.
• d. interstrand H-bonding between deoxyribose residues.
• e. decreasing the ionic strength of the solution.