Table of contents

1. Introduction to Genetics51m
2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
8. DNA Replication1h 10m
9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
10. Transcription1h 0m
11. Translation58m
12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
14. Genetic Control of Development44m
15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
16. Transposable Elements47m
17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- Genetic Cloning
  9m
- Methods for Analyzing DNA
  9m
19. Cancer Genetics29m
- Overview of Cancer
  21m
- Cancer Mutations
  7m
20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
21. Population Genetics50m
- Hardy Weinberg
  19m
- Allelic Frequency Changes
  31m
22. Evolutionary Genetics29m

11. Translation

The Genetic Code

Genetics

11. Translation

The Genetic Code

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following were used to discover the triplet code?

DNA homopolymers

RNA homopolymers

Protein lysis

DNA sequencing

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Verified step by step guidance

Understand the concept of the triplet code: The triplet code refers to the three-nucleotide sequence of DNA or RNA that corresponds to a specific amino acid or stop signal during protein synthesis.

Recognize the role of RNA homopolymers: RNA homopolymers are sequences of RNA that consist of only one type of nucleotide repeated multiple times. These were crucial in early experiments to decipher the genetic code.

Learn about the experiments by Nirenberg and Matthaei: In the 1960s, Marshall Nirenberg and Heinrich Matthaei used RNA homopolymers in their experiments to determine which amino acids were specified by which codons.

Understand the experimental setup: They synthesized RNA homopolymers and added them to a cell-free system containing ribosomes and other components necessary for protein synthesis. By observing which amino acids were incorporated into proteins, they could deduce the codons.

Connect the findings to the triplet code: The use of RNA homopolymers allowed researchers to identify specific codons and their corresponding amino acids, leading to the discovery of the triplet nature of the genetic code.

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Related Practice

Open Question

The two gels illustrated contain dideoxynucleotide DNA-sequencing information for a wild-type segment and mutant segment of DNA corresponding to the N-terminal end of a protein. The start codon and the next five codons are sequenced.

Determine the amino acid sequences translated from these mRNAs.

Open Question

The two gels illustrated contain dideoxynucleotide DNA-sequencing information for a wild-type segment and mutant segment of DNA corresponding to the N-terminal end of a protein. The start codon and the next five codons are sequenced.

Write out the mRNA sequences encoded by each template strand, and underline the start codons.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following characteristics does NOT describe the triplet codon code?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following codons is a start codon?

Open Question

In this chapter, we focused on the genetic code and the transcription of genetic information stored in DNA into complementary RNA molecules. Along the way, we found many opportunities to consider the methods and reasoning by which much of this information was acquired. From the explanations given in the chapter, what answers would you propose to the following fundamental questions:How were the experimentally derived triplet codon assignments verified in studies using bacteriophage MS2?

Open Question

In this chapter, we focused on the genetic code and the transcription of genetic information stored in DNA into complementary RNA molecules. Along the way, we found many opportunities to consider the methods and reasoning by which much of this information was acquired. From the explanations given in the chapter, what answers would you propose to the following fundamental questions:How were the specific sequences of triplet codes determined experimentally?

Open Question

In this chapter, we focused on the genetic code and the transcription of genetic information stored in DNA into complementary RNA molecules. Along the way, we found many opportunities to consider the methods and reasoning by which much of this information was acquired. From the explanations given in the chapter, what answers would you propose to the following fundamental questions:What experimental evidence provided the initial insights into the compositions of codons encoding specific amino acids?

Open Question

In this chapter, we focused on the genetic code and the transcription of genetic information stored in DNA into complementary RNA molecules. Along the way, we found many opportunities to consider the methods and reasoning by which much of this information was acquired. From the explanations given in the chapter, what answers would you propose to the following fundamental questions:Why did geneticists believe, even before direct experimental evidence was obtained, that the genetic code would turn out to be composed of triplet sequences and be nonoverlapping? Experimentally, how were these suppositions shown to be correct?