What characteristic is true of inverted repeats found in DNA?

Inverted repeats in DNA are sequences where the order of nucleotides is reversed and complemented on the opposite strand. One of the key characteristics of these sequences is their ability to form secondary structures, such as cruciforms. A cruciform structure arises when the DNA strands separate and the inverted repeat sequences on the two strands pair up with themselves, creating a looped formation. This is significant for various biological processes, including the regulation of gene expression and the formation of DNA-protein complexes.

The other characteristics associated with inverted repeats do not represent universal truths. They can be found in both double-stranded and single-stranded forms, depending on the context. While inverted repeats can absorb UV light at 260nm due to the nucleobases present, this property is not unique to inverted repeats but applies to all nucleic acids. Moreover, inverted repeats consist of both A-T and G-C base pairs, not exclusively A-T pairs, as their defining feature is the complementary nature of the sequences rather than their specific base composition. Therefore, the ability of inverted repeats to form cruciform structures accurately reflects a distinct characteristic of these sequences in DNA.