Textbook Question
What genetic information does a single gene contain?
Ch.26 Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis
McMurry8th EditionFundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134015187
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 Matter and Measurements27
- Ch.2 Atoms and the Periodic Table20
- Ch.3 Ionic Compounds8
- Ch.4 Molecular Compounds23
- Ch.5 Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions12
- Ch.6 Chemical Reactions: Mole and Mass Relationships28
- Ch.7 Chemical Reactions: Energy, Rate and Equilibrium64
- Ch.8 Gases, Liquids and Solids24
- Ch.9 Solutions52
- Ch.10 Acids and Bases25
- Ch.11 Nuclear Chemistry22
- Ch.12 Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Alkanes57
- Ch.13 Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds47
- Ch.14 Some Compounds with Oxygen, Sulfur, or a Halogen50
- Ch.15 Aldehydes and Ketones45
- Ch.16 Amines42
- Ch.17 Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives57
- Ch.18 Amino Acids and Proteins82
- Ch.19 Enzymes and Vitamins63
- Ch.20 Carbohydrates44
- Ch.21 The Generation of Biochemical Energy65
- Ch.22 Carbohydrate Metabolism45
- Ch.23 Lipids42
- Ch.24 Lipid Metabolism33
- Ch.25 Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism24
- Ch.26 Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis45
McMurry8th EditionFundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134015187Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 26, Problem 27a
Gln-His-Pro-Gly is the sequence of a molecule known as progenitor thyrotropin-releasing hormone (pro-TRH). If we were searching for pro-TRH genes, we would need to know what sequence of bases in DNA we should be looking for. Use the following boxes to indicate answers to parts (a)–(d).
a. What RNA sequence could code for these four amino acids?
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the relationship between amino acids and their corresponding RNA codons. Each amino acid is coded by a specific set of three RNA bases called a codon. For example, glutamine (Gln) is coded by codons such as CAA or CAG.
Step 2: Identify the RNA codons for each amino acid in the sequence Gln-His-Pro-Gly. Use a codon table to find the possible RNA codons for each amino acid: Gln (CAA or CAG), His (CAU or CAC), Pro (CCU, CCC, CCA, or CCG), and Gly (GGU, GGC, GGA, or GGG).
Step 3: Choose one codon for each amino acid to construct the RNA sequence. For example, you might select CAA for Gln, CAU for His, CCU for Pro, and GGU for Gly. This gives you a possible RNA sequence: CAA-CAU-CCU-GGU.
Step 4: Remember that RNA uses uracil (U) instead of thymine (T), which is found in DNA. Ensure that all codons in your RNA sequence contain U instead of T.
Step 5: Verify the RNA sequence by cross-checking with the codon table to ensure that each codon corresponds correctly to the amino acids in the sequence Gln-His-Pro-Gly.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Genetic Code
The genetic code is a set of rules that defines how the sequence of nucleotides in DNA and RNA is translated into the sequence of amino acids in proteins. Each amino acid is encoded by a specific sequence of three nucleotides, known as a codon. Understanding the genetic code is essential for determining which RNA sequences correspond to specific amino acid sequences, such as the one provided for pro-TRH.
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The Genetic Code Concept 1
Transcription and Translation
Transcription is the process by which the information in a DNA sequence is copied into a complementary RNA sequence. Translation is the subsequent process where the RNA sequence is read by ribosomes to synthesize proteins. Knowledge of these processes is crucial for identifying the RNA sequence that would code for the amino acids in the pro-TRH molecule.
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6:37Transcription: mRNA Synthesis Concept 1
Amino Acid Sequence
An amino acid sequence is the order of amino acids in a protein, which determines its structure and function. The sequence Gln-His-Pro-Gly corresponds to specific codons in mRNA, which must be identified to find the corresponding DNA sequence. Recognizing how amino acids relate to their codons is vital for answering the question about the RNA sequence coding for pro-TRH.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
What amino acid sequence is coded for by the mRNA base sequence CUC-AUU-CCA-UGC-GAC-GUA?
Textbook Question
Copy the following simplified drawing of a DNA replication fork:
a. On the drawing, indicate the direction of synthesis of the new strand labeled A and the location of DNA polymerase on the strand.
Textbook Question
What is the difference between a gene and a chromosome?
Textbook Question
Copy the diagram and use dotted lines to indicate where hydrogen bonding occurs between the complementary strands of DNA. What is the sequence of each strand of DNA drawn (remember that the sequence is written from the 5′ to 3′ end)?
Textbook Question
What are the two major components of chromatin?