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Question
Write the contributions of the following scientists in deciphering the genetic code.
George Gamow; Hargobind Khorana; Marshall Nirenberg; Severo Ochoa
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Solution
George Gamow proposed that if 20 amino acids are to be coded by 4 bases, then the code should be made up of three nucleotides.
43 = 64 (42 = 16), which is less than 20; so, the codon was proposed to be a triplet.
Har Gobind Khorana developed a chemical method to synthesize RNA molecules with a defined combination of bases.
Marshall Nirenberg developed cell-free systems for protein synthesis, which helped the code to be deciphered.
Severo Ochoa discovered an enzyme (polynucleotide phosphorylase) which helped in the synthesis of RNA with defined sequences in a template-independent manner.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Answer the following question.
State the importance of a Genetic code in protein biosynthesis.
Give reasons:
Genetic code is ‘universal’.
Name the anticodon required to recognize the following codon: AAU.
The mutations that involve addition, deletion or substitution of a single pair in a gene are referred to as ______.
How many codons code for amino acid?
Frame shift mutations are caused by ______.
Statement I:
The codon ‘AUG’ codes for methionine and phenylalanine.
Statement II:
‘AAA’ and ‘AAG’ are both codons that code for the amino acid lysine.
In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below.
Which one of the following is a termination codon?
How many amino acids can be coded by a doublet codon system?
How many codons in total exist in the genetic code?
