Degenerate code: Difference between revisions
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Amino acids are transcribed and translated from DNA molecules consist of nucleotides. There are 4 kind of nucleotides (namely Adenine, Cytosine Guanine and Thymine), however, there are 20 kinds of amino acid so each nucleotide cannot correspond directly to each amino acid.<br> | Amino acids are transcribed and translated from DNA molecules consist of nucleotides. There are 4 kind of nucleotides (namely Adenine, Cytosine Guanine and Thymine), however, there are 20 kinds of amino acid so each nucleotide cannot correspond directly to each amino acid.<br> | ||
In fact, nucleotides are read in groups of 3 called codons. Nevertheless, this creates more codons than needed as now the possible combinations is 4<sup>3</sup>=64.<ref name="Molecular Biology of the Cell">Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K. and Walter, P. (2008) 'Molecular Biology of the Cell', in 5th edGarland Science, pp. 367</ref> | In fact, nucleotides are read in groups of 3 called codons. Nevertheless, this creates more codons than needed as now the possible combinations is 4<sup>3</sup>=64.(Alberts, et al., 2008)<ref name="Molecular Biology of the Cell">Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K. and Walter, P. (2008) 'Molecular Biology of the Cell', in 5th edGarland Science, pp. 367</ref> | ||
Therefore, solve this problem, the genetic code uses a many-to-one mapping for most amino acids, with the exception for Met and Trp which respectively correspond to a codon. This means the genetic cide is degenerate. | Therefore, solve this problem, the genetic code uses a many-to-one mapping for most amino acids, with the exception for Met and Trp which respectively correspond to a codon. This means the genetic cide is degenerate. | ||
Revision as of 11:53, 10 January 2011
Amino acids are transcribed and translated from DNA molecules consist of nucleotides. There are 4 kind of nucleotides (namely Adenine, Cytosine Guanine and Thymine), however, there are 20 kinds of amino acid so each nucleotide cannot correspond directly to each amino acid.
In fact, nucleotides are read in groups of 3 called codons. Nevertheless, this creates more codons than needed as now the possible combinations is 43=64.(Alberts, et al., 2008)[1]
Therefore, solve this problem, the genetic code uses a many-to-one mapping for most amino acids, with the exception for Met and Trp which respectively correspond to a codon. This means the genetic cide is degenerate.
Reference
- ↑ Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K. and Walter, P. (2008) 'Molecular Biology of the Cell', in 5th edGarland Science, pp. 367