Table of contents

1. Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology5h 43m
2. Cell Chemistry & Cell Components12h 36m
3. Energy & Cell Processes10h 6m
4. Tissues & Histology10h 3m
5. Integumentary System2h 20m
6. Bones & Skeletal Tissue2h 16m
7. The Skeletal System2h 35m
8. Joints2h 17m
9. Muscle Tissue2h 33m
10. Muscles1h 11m
11. Nervous Tissue and Nervous System1h 35m
12. The Central Nervous System1h 6m
- Introduction to the Central Nervous System
  18m
- The Cerebrum
  48m
13. The Peripheral Nervous System1h 26m
14. The Autonomic Nervous System1h 38m
15. The Special Senses2h 41m
16. The Endocrine System2h 48m
17. The Blood3h 22m
18. The Heart3h 42m
19. The Blood Vessels3h 35m
20. The Lymphatic System3h 16m
21. The Immune System14h 37m
22. The Respiratory System3h 20m
23. The Digestive System2h 5m
24. Metabolism and Nutrition4h 0m
25. The Urinary System2h 39m
26. Fluid and Electrolyte Balance, Acid Base Balance37m
27. The Reproductive System2h 5m
28. Human Development1h 21m
29. Heredity3h 32m

3. Energy & Cell Processes

Genetic Code

Anatomy & Physiology

3. Energy & Cell Processes

Genetic Code

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Problem 10

Textbook Question

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 12c. 4 and 10d. 12 and 4

Verified step by step guidance

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.

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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 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.

Non-overlapping vs. Overlapping Codons

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

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.