Multiple Choice
In the context of the central dogma, what is the primary role of mRNA in protein synthesis?
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1. Introduction to Biochemistry
Central Dogma
Multiple Choice
In the context of the central dogma and the genetic code, how many mRNA codons specify one amino acid during translation?
A
4 codons
B
1 codon
C
2 codons
D
3 codons
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall that the central dogma of molecular biology describes the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein, where mRNA codons are read during translation to specify amino acids.
Understand that an mRNA codon is a sequence of three nucleotides (triplet) that corresponds to a single amino acid or a stop signal during protein synthesis.
Recognize that each codon is unique and specifies exactly one amino acid, although multiple codons can code for the same amino acid (this is called the degeneracy of the genetic code).
Note that the question asks how many codons specify one amino acid during translation, which means how many codons are needed to specify a single amino acid at a time.
Conclude that since one codon consists of three nucleotides and specifies one amino acid, the correct answer is that one codon specifies one amino acid during translation.
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