Har Gobind Khorana and his colleagues performed numerous experiments translating synthetic mRNAs. In one experiment, an mRNA molecule with a repeating UG dinucleotide sequence was assembled and translated.

If the genetic code were a doublet code instead of a triplet code, how would the result of this experiment be different?

Key Concepts

Genetic Code

The genetic code is the set of rules by which information encoded in genetic material is translated into proteins. It consists of codons, which are sequences of three nucleotides that correspond to specific amino acids. Understanding the genetic code is crucial for interpreting how sequences of nucleotides dictate the synthesis of proteins.

Triplet Code vs. Doublet Code

The triplet code refers to the use of three nucleotides (codons) to specify each amino acid in protein synthesis, allowing for 64 possible combinations. In contrast, a doublet code would use pairs of nucleotides, resulting in only 16 combinations. This difference significantly impacts the complexity and diversity of proteins that can be synthesized.

Translation Process

Translation is the process by which ribosomes synthesize proteins using mRNA as a template. During translation, the ribosome reads the mRNA codons and assembles the corresponding amino acids into a polypeptide chain. The efficiency and accuracy of this process depend on the structure of the genetic code, which determines how sequences are interpreted.