A particular triplet of bases in the coding sequence of DNA is TGA. The anticodon on the tRNA that binds to the mRNA codon is                   . a. TGA; b. UGA; c. UCU; d. ACU

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the mRNA codon that corresponds to the DNA triplet TGA. Remember that during transcription, adenine (A) pairs with uracil (U) in RNA, and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G).
2. Convert the DNA triplet TGA into the mRNA codon. Replace thymine (T) with uracil (U) for RNA transcription.
3. Understand that the anticodon on tRNA is complementary to the mRNA codon. This means each base of the anticodon will pair with the corresponding base of the mRNA codon following base-pairing rules (A with U, C with G, and vice versa).
4. Formulate the anticodon by finding the complement of each base in the mRNA codon.
5. Choose the correct anticodon from the given options that matches the anticodon formulated in the previous step.

Key Concepts

DNA Codons and Anticodons

In molecular biology, a codon is a sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that specifies a particular amino acid. The corresponding tRNA molecule has an anticodon, which is a complementary sequence of three nucleotides that pairs with the mRNA codon during translation. Understanding this relationship is crucial for determining how genetic information is translated into proteins.

Base Pairing Rules

Base pairing rules dictate how nucleotides pair in DNA and RNA. In DNA, adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G). In RNA, uracil (U) replaces thymine, so adenine pairs with uracil. This knowledge is essential for deducing the anticodon from a given DNA codon.

Transcription and Translation

Transcription is the process by which the DNA sequence is copied into mRNA, while translation is the subsequent process where the mRNA is decoded to synthesize proteins. The triplet code in mRNA is read by ribosomes, and tRNA molecules bring the appropriate amino acids based on the codon-anticodon pairing. This concept is fundamental for understanding how genetic information is expressed.