The genetic code is redundant but not ambiguous. Explain what this statement means.
2007-11-05 14:00:18 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Botany
Some (most) proteins are encoded by several codons. They usually have the 'wobble' in the third position. In these cases if the third base mutates it may still code for the same protein.
Serine has more than any other protein with UCU,
UCC, UCA, UCG, AGU, AGC. http://opbs.okstate.edu/~melcher/mg/MGW2/MG241.html
2007-11-05 14:14:13 · answer #1 · answered by gardengallivant 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The genes that code for proteins are composed of 3-nucleotide units called codons; each one codes for a single amino acid. There are 64 different codon combinations possible using the 4 nucleotide bases but only 20 amino acids. There are 3 codons that stop transcription and one that indicates the starting point for transcription. This leaves 60 codon combinations for the 20 amino acids.
The genetic code has redundancy but no ambiguity. For example, although codons GAA and GAG both specify glutamic acid (redundancy), neither of them specifies any other amino acid (no ambiguity).
I am usually reluctant to use wiki as a source but it is very good on this subject. The table of base combinations is nice and clear and its explanations quite good.
2007-11-05 22:07:05 · answer #2 · answered by myrtguy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably that the code has a lot of repetition, but the order of genotype repetition makes it very clear what the phenotype is--therefore, it's not ambiguous.
2007-11-05 14:08:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
my own understanding is that the code is inessential and it might be a recessive since its not certain...oppose to something being dominant that is prominent.
i dont think i made sense either! lol..hope that was relevant..when you find the actual answer later.
2007-11-05 14:17:28 · answer #4 · answered by Smiley 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋