In: Biology
Consider the codon “GAU” and answer the following
questions:
a- Which amino acid is encoded by the given codon.
b- How many different codons can be generated by point mutation at
the position of the second
nucleotide “A”. Show all possible codons and representing amino
acids.
The 20 aminoacids are encoded by triplet codons sometimes more than one codon. There are 64 possible triplets for coding 20 aminoacids and also including 3 for stop codons. The example includes UCU, UCC, UCA, UCG for the aminoacid serine, UAC, UAU for Tyrosine,etc., The full set of codons is calledas Genetic Code. The Genetic code links triplets of Nucleic acids in an mRNA sequence to a protein.
a) The aminoacid encoded for the code GAU is Aspartic Acid.
Aspartic acid is a non essential aminoacid in human beings where the body can synthesize on its own. The Aspartic acid has an acidic side chain. The codon GAU and GAC code for Aspartic Acid. It has the molecular formula of C4H7NO4. It plays an important role in the synthesis of other aminoacids in citric acid and Urea cycles.
b) The point mutation at the second codon of the Nucleotide GAU can result in
GAU | Aspartic Acid |
GCU | Alanine |
GUU | Valine |
GGU | Glycine |