Nucleic acid thermodynamics of base incompatibility by quantifying the temperature at which two strands anneal can provide information as to the similarity in base sequence between the two strands being annealed. The complexes may be dissociated by thermal denaturation, also referred to as melting. In the absence of external negative factors, the processes of hybridization and melting may be repeated in succession indefinitely, which lays the ground for polymerase chain reaction. Most commonly, the pairs of nucleic bases A=T and G≡C are formed, of which the latter is more stable. DNA denaturation, also called DNA melting, is the process by which double-stranded deoxyribonucleic
Homogentisic acid Homogentisic acid Homogentisic acid (2,5-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) is a phenolic acid usually found in "Arbutus unedo" (strawberry-tree) honey. It is also present in the bacterial plant pathogen "Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli" as well as in the yeast "Yarrowia lipolytica" where it is associated with the production of brown pigments. It is oxidatively dimerised to form hipposudoric acid, one of the main constituents of the 'blood sweat' of hippopotamuses. It is less commonly known as melanic acid, the name chosen by William Prout. Accumulation of excess homogentisic acid and its oxide, named alkapton, is a result of the failure of the enzyme