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{{For|complementation and complementation tests used in genetics research|Complementation (genetics)}}
{{otheruses|complement}}
[[Image:Complementarity (DNA).png|thumb|right|250px|On the left: [[nucleotide]]s that form the [[DNA]] and their complementary. Between A and T there are two hydrogen bonds, while 3 are between C and G. On the right a DNA sequence and its complementary strand.]]

In [[molecular biology]], '''complementarity''' is a property of double-stranded [[nucleic acid]]s such as [[DNA]] and [[RNA]] as well as DNA:RNA duplexes. Each strand is complementary to the other in that the [[base pair]]s between them are non-[[covalent bond|covalently]] connected via two or three [[hydrogen bond]]s.

Since there is only one complementary base for any of the bases found in DNA and in RNA, one can reconstruct a complementary strand for any single strand. This is essential for [[DNA replication]].

For example, the complementary strand of the DNA sequence
 A G T C A T G
is
 T C A G T A C
a trick to remember this is 
 A      Gwinnett
 Tlanta County

[[tRNA]]s exhibit wobble, in which the third base of their anticodon does not follow the strict complementarity rules.

==See also==
*[[Base pair]]

[[Category:Molecular biology]]
[[Category:Physiology]]

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