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Ch. 14 - Translation and Proteins
Chapter 14, Problem 5

In studies using repeating copolymers, AC . . . incorporates threonine and histidine, and CAACAA . . . incorporates glutamine, asparagine, and threonine. What triplet code can definitely be assigned to threonine?

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Identify the repeating copolymers given: AC and CAACAA.
Determine the amino acids incorporated by each copolymer: AC incorporates threonine and histidine, while CAACAA incorporates glutamine, asparagine, and threonine.
Recognize that threonine is incorporated by both copolymers, suggesting it is coded by a sequence present in both.
Analyze the sequences: AC is a repeating dimer, and CAACAA is a repeating tetramer.
Conclude that the triplet code for threonine must be present in both AC and CAACAA, which is ACA.

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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 the sequence of nucleotides in DNA or RNA is translated into the sequence of amino acids in proteins. It consists of triplet codons, where each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid or a stop signal during protein synthesis. Understanding the genetic code is essential for determining which codons correspond to specific amino acids, such as threonine.
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The Genetic Code

Amino Acids and Their Codons

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and each amino acid is encoded by one or more specific codons in the genetic code. Threonine, for example, is encoded by the codons ACU, ACC, ACA, and ACG. Recognizing the relationship between amino acids and their corresponding codons is crucial for interpreting genetic sequences and understanding protein synthesis.
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Copolymers in Genetic Studies

Copolymers are polymers made from two or more different monomers, and in genetic studies, they can be used to investigate the incorporation of specific amino acids into proteins. The mention of repeating copolymers in the question suggests a focus on how these sequences can influence the incorporation of amino acids like threonine. Understanding the role of copolymers helps in analyzing how specific sequences affect protein composition.
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