Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Amino Acids and Polypeptides
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, linked together by peptide bonds to form polypeptides. The sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide determines its structure and function. Each amino acid is encoded by a specific sequence of three nucleotides in DNA, known as a codon, which is transcribed into mRNA during protein synthesis.
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DNA and RNA Transcription
Transcription is the process by which the genetic information in DNA is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA). The DNA template strand is used to synthesize mRNA, which is complementary to the template strand. The coding strand of DNA has the same sequence as the mRNA (except for thymine being replaced by uracil), and understanding this relationship is crucial for determining the corresponding DNA sequences.
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Nucleotide Symbols (N, Pu, Py)
In genetics, specific symbols are often used to represent nucleotides: 'N' indicates any nucleotide, 'Pu' represents purines (adenine and guanine), and 'Py' represents pyrimidines (cytosine and thymine/uracil). These symbols are useful for denoting ambiguous positions in sequences or when the exact nucleotide is not known, allowing for a broader representation of genetic information.
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