Table of contents

1. Introduction to Biology2h 42m
2. Chemistry3h 37m
3. Water1h 26m
4. Biomolecules2h 23m
5. Cell Components2h 26m
6. The Membrane2h 31m
7. Energy and Metabolism2h 0m
8. Respiration2h 40m
9. Photosynthesis2h 49m
10. Cell Signaling59m
11. Cell Division2h 47m
12. Meiosis2h 0m
13. Mendelian Genetics4h 44m
14. DNA Synthesis2h 27m
15. Gene Expression3h 6m
16. Regulation of Expression3h 31m
17. Viruses37m
- Viruses
  37m
18. Biotechnology2h 58m
19. Genomics17m
- Genomes
  17m
20. Development1h 5m
21. Evolution3h 1m
22. Evolution of Populations3h 53m
23. Speciation1h 37m
24. History of Life on Earth2h 6m
25. Phylogeny2h 31m
26. Prokaryotes4h 59m
27. Protists1h 12m
28. Plants1h 22m
29. Fungi36m
- Fungi
  19m
- Fungi Reproduction
  17m
30. Overview of Animals34m
- Overview of Animals
  34m
31. Invertebrates1h 2m
32. Vertebrates50m
33. Plant Anatomy1h 3m
34. Vascular Plant Transport1h 2m
- Water Potential
  1h 2m
35. Soil37m
- Soil and Nutrients
  20m
- Nitrogen Fixation
  16m
36. Plant Reproduction47m
- Flowers
  33m
- Seeds
  14m
37. Plant Sensation and Response1h 9m
38. Animal Form and Function1h 19m
39. Digestive System1h 10m
- Digestion
  1h 3m
- Blood Sugar Homeostasis
  7m
40. Circulatory System1h 49m
41. Immune System1h 12m
42. Osmoregulation and Excretion50m
- Osmoregulation and Excretion
  50m
43. Endocrine System1h 4m
- Endocrine System
  1h 4m
44. Animal Reproduction1h 2m
- Animal Reproduction
  1h 2m
45. Nervous System1h 55m
- Neurons and Action Potentials
  1h 8m
- Central and Peripheral Nervous System
  46m
46. Sensory Systems46m
- Sensory System
  46m
47. Muscle Systems23m
- Musculoskeletal System
  23m
48. Ecology3h 11m
49. Animal Behavior28m
- Animal Behavior
  28m
50. Population Ecology3h 41m
51. Community Ecology2h 46m
52. Ecosystems2h 36m
53. Conservation Biology24m
- Conservation Biology
  24m

15. Gene Expression

Central Dogma

General Biology

15. Gene Expression

Central Dogma

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0:30 minutes

Problem 10

Textbook Question

The base sequence of the gene coding for a short polypeptide is CTACGCTAGGCGATTGACT. What would be the base sequence of the mRNA transcribed from this gene? Using the genetic code, give the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide translated from this mRNA. (Hint: What is the start codon?)

Verified step by step guidance

Identify the template strand and the coding strand in the DNA sequence provided. In this case, the given sequence is the coding strand: CTACGCTAGGCGATTGACT.

Transcribe the DNA sequence into mRNA by replacing each DNA base with its complementary RNA base. Remember that adenine (A) pairs with uracil (U) in RNA instead of thymine (T), and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G).

Locate the start codon (AUG) in the mRNA sequence. This codon marks the beginning of the translation process and codes for the amino acid methionine.

Translate the mRNA sequence into an amino acid sequence using the genetic code. Each set of three nucleotides (codon) in the mRNA corresponds to one amino acid in the polypeptide.

Continue reading the mRNA sequence codon by codon, translating each until you reach a stop codon (UAA, UAG, or UGA), which does not code for an amino acid but signals the end of translation.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Transcription

Transcription is the process by which the genetic information in DNA is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA). During transcription, RNA polymerase reads the DNA template strand and synthesizes a complementary RNA strand, replacing thymine (T) with uracil (U). This process is crucial for gene expression, as it produces the mRNA that carries the genetic code from the nucleus to the ribosome for translation.

Genetic Code

The genetic code is a set of rules that defines how sequences of nucleotides in mRNA are translated into amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Each group of three nucleotides, known as a codon, corresponds to a specific amino acid or a stop signal during protein synthesis. Understanding the genetic code is essential for determining the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide from the mRNA sequence.

Start Codon

The start codon is a specific sequence of nucleotides in mRNA that signals the beginning of translation. The most common start codon is AUG, which codes for the amino acid methionine. Identifying the start codon is critical for correctly interpreting the mRNA sequence and ensuring that the polypeptide is synthesized from the correct point, leading to the proper amino acid sequence.