One of the possibilities considered about the genetic code was that the code was overlapping, meaning that a single base could be part of up to three codons. How many amino acids would be encoded in the sequence 5′-AUGUUACGGAAU-3′ by a non-overlapping and a maximally overlapping triplet code?
a. 4 (non-overlapping) and 16 (overlapping)
b. 4 and 12
c. 4 and 10
d. 12 and 4
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the sequence provided: 5′-AUGUUACGGAAU-3′.
For a non-overlapping code, divide the sequence into triplets starting from the first base: AUG, UUA, CGG, AAU.
Count the number of triplets in the non-overlapping sequence to determine the number of amino acids encoded.
For a maximally overlapping code, consider each base as the start of a new triplet: AUG, UGU, GUU, UUA, UAC, ACG, CGG, GGA, GAA, AAU.
Count the number of triplets in the overlapping sequence to determine the number of amino acids encoded.
Was this helpful?
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Genetic Code
The genetic code is a set of rules that defines how sequences of nucleotides in DNA or RNA are translated into proteins. It consists of codons, which are triplets of nucleotides that correspond to specific amino acids. Understanding the genetic code is essential for interpreting how genetic information is expressed in living organisms.
In a non-overlapping codon system, each nucleotide is part of only one codon, meaning that each triplet is read independently. In contrast, an overlapping codon system allows a single nucleotide to be included in multiple codons, potentially increasing the number of amino acids encoded. This distinction is crucial for calculating the number of amino acids produced from a given nucleotide sequence.
Codon calculation involves determining how many amino acids are encoded by a nucleotide sequence based on the codon reading frame. For a non-overlapping code, the sequence is divided into groups of three nucleotides, while in a maximally overlapping code, each nucleotide contributes to multiple codons. This calculation is fundamental for understanding protein synthesis and the implications of different coding strategies.