Question

If the following is the sequence of nucleotides in mRNA, predict the sequence of amino acids coded by it:

AUG UUU UUC UUC UUU UUU UUC.

Can you now correlate which two properties of the genetic code you have learnt?

Answer 1

Met - Phe - Phe - Phe - Phe - Phe - Phe

The given sequence demonstrates the following two properties:

1. Degeneracy: This property is shown by the fact that both codons UUU and UUC code for the same amino acid, Phenylalanine. This proves that a single amino acid can be specified by more than one codon.
2. Unambiguity: This is demonstrated because each codon specifies only one particular amino acid (e.g., AUG always codes for Methionine). There is no confusion; one codon never codes for two different amino acids.