Question

You are excited because your lab is studying the first microorganisms retrieved from Mars! Interestingly, their genetic material consists of a single-stranded nucleic acid with six different nitrogenous bases. Like organisms from Earth, segments of the nucleic acid contain the code for making proteins. If the genetic code in these organisms was read in groups of 2 bases instead of 3, what is the maximum number of amino acids that could be coded for assuming that only one codon functioned as a stop codon?

Answer 1

Answer: The maximum number of amino acids that could be coded is 2

Explanation:

• A codon in this microorganism is 2 bases instead of 3 bases .
• In order to encode a protein a sequence requires a start and stop codon

• If you assume no start codon: then only 2 bases would make up the stop codon.

• This leaves 4 bases which is 2 codons. This would encode 2 amino acids.

• If you assume a start and stop codon, then each codon would be allocated 2 base pairs each =  4 base pairs
• This only leaves 2 base pairs, a single codon which would only code for 1 amino acid