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Multiple Choice
In the central dogma of molecular biology, what are the mRNA triplets called that are coded from a gene?
A
Amino acids
B
Nucleotides
C
Anticodons
D
Codons
Verified step by step guidance
1
Begin by understanding the central dogma of molecular biology, which describes the flow of genetic information within a biological system. It typically involves the processes of transcription and translation.
During transcription, the DNA sequence of a gene is transcribed to produce messenger RNA (mRNA). This mRNA serves as a template for protein synthesis.
The mRNA is composed of sequences of nucleotides, and these sequences are read in sets of three nucleotides known as triplets.
Each triplet of nucleotides on the mRNA is referred to as a 'codon'. Codons are crucial because they specify which amino acid will be added next during protein synthesis.
To clarify, codons are distinct from anticodons, which are found on transfer RNA (tRNA) and pair with mRNA codons during translation to ensure the correct amino acids are incorporated into the growing polypeptide chain.