Question

4. Examine the codon chart and list all of the codons that code for the amino acid leucine. List them: Second Bar U code ; amino acid cade amung aca" code arning old code, amino acid LOU UCA FORCE STICI DCA UGG Glou. CGC gla Firal Base Third Base as AUC mrt WENT GOO VA​

Answer 1

Answer:

The codons that code for LEUCINE amino acid are:

1. UUA

2. UUG

3. CUU

4. CUC

5. CUA

6. CUG

Explanation:

A CODON is a group of three nucleotides in the mRNA molecule that specifies a particular amino acid. It represents a trio combination of nucleotides (A, G, C, U). There are about 64 possible codons formed from four nucleotides used in a combination of three's i.e 4³ = 64. All the codons collectively form the GENETIC CODE, which is used by all known living organisms.

However, since there are only 20 amino acids in nature and 64 possible codons, more than one codon encodes an amino acid. This means that the genetic code is DEGENERATE or REDUNDANT. Hence, in this case involving the amino acid: LEUCINE, the six (6) codons that specify it (depicted in the attached genetic code) are as follows:

- UUA

- UUG

- CUU

- CUC

- CUA

- CUG