In the experiments that deciphered the genetic code, many diff...

Question

In the experiments that deciphered the genetic code, many different synthetic mRNA sequences were tested.

Predict the results of experiments examining GCUA repeats.

Accepted Answer

Hi, everyone. Welcome back. Our next question says, which of the following is not related to the genetic code? A start codon B stop codon C hairpin or D sense code on. Well, when we think about the genetic code, of course, we're talking about that connection or bridge between the genetic information stored in DNA and the proteins that are getting produced. And it's the genetic code because you have those three base pair sequences that act as codons, each one coding for either an amino acid or a stop signal. So looking at our answer choices, even if we couldn't remember off the top of our head, since our question says which of the following is not related. And then we have three answer choices that are codons and one that is not. If I were on a test, I would definitely pick choice C hairpin, even if I didn't remember what any of these things were, since it's the only answer that's not a code on. And indeed, a hairpin is a secondary structure that can form in an R N A molecule when you have two parts of the same segment of R N A that are comps of the same strand that are complementary to each other, they bind to each other, which results in the formation of a loop. You have two parts in the same sequence that match up with each other, creating sort of a straight double stranded sequence. And then you end up with a loop at the end and that gives you sort of the structure of a hairpin with a round end and then to the double stranded part in the middle as being straight. And that is can perform various functions, various regulatory functions. But it's not directly part of the genetic code. It's just a way that the R N A folds in and binds to itself. So that is our correct answer. Whereas our other answers, all of these codons are indeed part of the genetic code. The start code on is a U G. It codes for the amino acid methionine and also is where protein translation will start. It's that signal that gets the ribosome to start translating from the M R N A strand. So that's not our answer choice. B A stop code on one of three codons that terminates translation. So when the translation machinery reaches one of those codons translation will stop. And that is also part of the genetic code and then finally send code on would be a code on that code's four and amino acid. This will obviously be the vast majority of the codons it with the exception of the three stop codons, otherwise known as nonsense codons since they don't code for amino acid but not what we're looking for. So again, which of the following is not related to the genetic code choice C hairpin. See you in the next video.

In the experiments that deciphered the genetic code, many different synthetic mRNA sequences were tested.
Predict the results of experiments examining GCUA repeats.

Key Concepts

Genetic Code

mRNA and Translation

Repetitive Sequences

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