Bio - Genetics

[jefff]

---

Members do not see this ad.

The genetic code is considered degenerate because
A. more than one codon can code for a single amino acid
B. one codon can code for multiple amino acids
C. more than one anticodon can bind to a given codon
D. only one anticodon can bind to a given codon
E. none of the above


I understand why A is correct, but i was wondering if C said "one anticodon can bind to more than one codon" would that be a correct statement?

Did I just reword it and it still says the same thing? I'm starting to confuse myself and would appreciate some insight. Thanks!

 

[Shinpe]

I think that's a true statement and multiple anti-codons can bind to one codon (the third base seems to not matter too much). But that's not why the genetic code is considered degenerate. The genetic code is considered degenerate due to A.

 

[nze82]

The genetic code is considered degenerate because
A. more than one codon can code for a single amino acid
B. one codon can code for multiple amino acids
C. more than one anticodon can bind to a given codon
D. only one anticodon can bind to a given codon
E. none of the above


I understand why A is correct, but i was wondering if C said "one anticodon can bind to more than one codon" would that be a correct statement?

Did I just reword it and it still says the same thing? I'm starting to confuse myself and would appreciate some insight. Thanks!

What you said is true!
In molecular genetics, this is referred to as "Base Pair Wobbling." There are 64 codons. tRNA must match with each codon. If each tRNA could match only with one codon, then we needed 64 tRNA molecules. However, most species have only about 45 different types of tRNA, which means some tRNA must match more than one codon.

 

[jefff]

What you said is true!
In molecular genetics, this is referred to as "Base Pair Wobbling." There are 64 codons. tRNA must match with each codon. If each tRNA could match only with one codon, then we needed 64 tRNA molecules. However, most species have only about 45 different types of tRNA, which means some tRNA must match more than one codon.

Awesome that makes sense!

So let me just try and sum it up:

Genetic code is degenerate.

It is considered degenerate because there are 20 AA and 64 codons. (More than one codon can code for a single AA)

The fact that there are ~45 tRNA types and 64 codons (a single tRNA or "anticodon" can bind to more than one codon due to wobble base pairing) makes the genetic code partially degenerate but nothing in comparison to the degeneracy due to the ratio of AAs to codons.

Is this correct?

 

[nze82]

Awesome that makes sense!

So let me just try and sum it up:

Genetic code is degenerate.

It is considered degenerate because there are 20 AA and 64 codons. (More than one codon can code for a single AA)

The fact that there are ~45 tRNA types and 64 codons (a single tRNA or "anticodon" can bind to more than one codon due to wobble base pairing) makes the genetic code partially degenerate but nothing in comparison to the degeneracy due to the ratio of AAs to codons.

Is this correct?

Yes! I believe that's correct.

 

[jefff]

Awesome thanks again.

 

[nze82]

Awesome thanks again.

You're welcome🙂