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Multiple Choice
Which of the following methods were used to decipher the genetic code?
A
X-ray crystallography
B
DNA sequencing
C
Synthetic RNA experiments
D
Gel electrophoresis
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the context: The genetic code refers to the set of rules by which information encoded in genetic material (DNA or RNA sequences) is translated into proteins by living cells.
Identify the method: Synthetic RNA experiments were crucial in deciphering the genetic code. These experiments involved creating artificial RNA sequences and observing the resulting polypeptides produced during translation.
Explore the process: Researchers synthesized RNA molecules with known sequences and used them in cell-free systems to determine which amino acids were incorporated into proteins. This helped establish the relationship between nucleotide sequences and amino acids.
Consider the historical significance: The work of scientists like Marshall Nirenberg and Heinrich Matthaei in the 1960s was pivotal. They used synthetic RNA to identify the first codon, UUU, which codes for the amino acid phenylalanine.
Reflect on the impact: These experiments laid the foundation for understanding the genetic code, which is universal across organisms, and paved the way for advances in genetic engineering and biotechnology.