Table of contents

1. Introduction to Genetics51m
2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
8. DNA Replication1h 10m
9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
10. Transcription1h 0m
11. Translation58m
12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
14. Genetic Control of Development44m
15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
16. Transposable Elements47m
17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- Genetic Cloning
  9m
- Methods for Analyzing DNA
  9m
19. Cancer Genetics29m
- Overview of Cancer
  21m
- Cancer Mutations
  7m
20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
21. Population Genetics50m
- Hardy Weinberg
  19m
- Allelic Frequency Changes
  31m
22. Evolutionary Genetics29m

11. Translation

The Genetic Code

Genetics

11. Translation

The Genetic Code

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2:59 minutes

Problem 24a

Textbook Question

Har Gobind Khorana and his colleagues performed numerous experiments translating synthetic mRNAs. In one experiment, an mRNA molecule with a repeating UG dinucleotide sequence was assembled and translated.
Write the sequence of this mRNA and give its polarity.

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the problem: The mRNA molecule has a repeating UG dinucleotide sequence. This means the sequence alternates between U (Uracil) and G (Guanine) repeatedly. The task is to write the sequence and determine its polarity.

Step 1: Write the repeating sequence. Since the mRNA is composed of UG dinucleotides, the sequence will look like UGUGUGUG... and continue in this pattern.

Step 2: Recall the polarity of mRNA. mRNA is synthesized in the 5' to 3' direction, which means the sequence starts at the 5' end and ends at the 3' end.

Step 3: Combine the sequence and polarity. The full mRNA sequence will be written as 5'-UGUGUGUG...-3', indicating the directionality of the molecule.

Step 4: Confirm the understanding of polarity. The 5' end refers to the phosphate group attached to the fifth carbon of the ribose sugar, while the 3' end refers to the hydroxyl group attached to the third carbon of the ribose sugar. This polarity is crucial for processes like translation.

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Key Concepts

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

mRNA Structure

Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a single-stranded nucleic acid that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where proteins are synthesized. It is composed of nucleotide sequences, which include adenine (A), uracil (U), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). The sequence of mRNA is determined by the template strand of DNA during transcription.

Polarity of Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids, including mRNA, have polarity, which refers to the directionality of the molecule. mRNA is synthesized in the 5' to 3' direction, meaning that the 5' end has a phosphate group, while the 3' end has a hydroxyl group. This polarity is crucial for the processes of translation and replication.

Codons and Translation

Codons are sequences of three nucleotides in mRNA that correspond to specific amino acids during protein synthesis. The repeating UG dinucleotide sequence in the mRNA would be translated into a series of codons, affecting the resulting polypeptide chain. Understanding how codons are read is essential for predicting the amino acid sequence produced during translation.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

Har Gobind Khorana and his colleagues performed numerous experiments translating synthetic mRNAs. In one experiment, an mRNA molecule with a repeating UG dinucleotide sequence was assembled and translated.

If the genetic code were overlapping rather than nonoverlapping, how would the result of this experiment be different?

641

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Textbook Question

If the genetic code were a doublet code instead of a triplet code, how would the result of this experiment be different?

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Textbook Question

How did the polypeptide composition help confirm the triplet nature of the genetic code?

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Textbook Question

What is the sequence of the resulting polypeptide?

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Textbook Question

An experiment by Khorana and his colleagues translated a synthetic mRNA containing repeats of the trinucelotide UUG.

How does the result of this experiment help confirm the triplet nature of the genetic code?

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Textbook Question

An experiment by Khorana and his colleagues translated a synthetic mRNA containing repeats of the trinucelotide UUG.

What is the result obtained from each reading frame?

514

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Textbook Question

An experiment by Khorana and his colleagues translated a synthetic mRNA containing repeats of the trinucelotide UUG.

How many reading frames are possible in this mRNA?

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Textbook Question

The human β-globin polypeptide contains 146 amino acids. How many mRNA nucleotides are required to encode this polypeptide?

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Har Gobind Khorana and his colleagues performed numerous experiments translating synthetic mRNAs. In one experiment, an mRNA molecule with a repeating UG dinucleotide sequence was assembled and translated.Write the sequence of this mRNA and give its polarity.

Key Concepts

mRNA Structure

Polarity of Nucleic Acids

Codons and Translation

Watch next

Har Gobind Khorana and his colleagues performed numerous experiments translating synthetic mRNAs. In one experiment, an mRNA molecule with a repeating UG dinucleotide sequence was assembled and translated.
Write the sequence of this mRNA and give its polarity.