Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
DNA and RNA Transcription
Transcription is the process by which a segment of DNA is copied into mRNA. During this process, RNA polymerase reads the DNA template strand in the 3′ to 5′ direction, synthesizing the mRNA in the 5′ to 3′ direction. Understanding this process is crucial for determining the correct nucleotide sequence that corresponds to a given polypeptide.
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1) Initiation of Transcription
Codons and Amino Acids
Codons are sequences of three nucleotides in mRNA that correspond to specific amino acids during protein synthesis. Each amino acid is encoded by one or more codons, and knowing the codon table is essential for translating a polypeptide sequence, such as Phe-Pro-Lys, into its corresponding mRNA sequence.
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Template Strand vs. Coding Strand
In DNA, the template strand is the strand that is read by RNA polymerase to synthesize mRNA, while the coding strand has the same sequence as the mRNA (except for thymine being replaced by uracil). Identifying the correct template strand sequence is vital for accurately determining the mRNA sequence that codes for the specified polypeptide.
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