A protein contains 35 amino acids. How many nucleotides would be found in the mRNA code for this protein?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the relationship between amino acids and nucleotides: Each amino acid in a protein is encoded by a codon in mRNA, and each codon consists of three nucleotides.
2. Determine the number of codons required for the protein: Since the protein contains 35 amino acids, it will require 35 codons in the mRNA sequence.
3. Calculate the total number of nucleotides: Multiply the number of codons (35) by the number of nucleotides per codon (3). This gives the total number of nucleotides required to encode the protein.
4. Consider additional nucleotides: mRNA sequences often include a start codon (AUG) and a stop codon (e.g., UAA, UAG, or UGA). These codons are part of the mRNA but do not encode amino acids. Add these codons to the total nucleotide count if specified.
5. Verify the calculation and ensure the logic aligns with the central dogma of molecular biology, which describes the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein.

Key Concepts

Amino Acids and Proteins

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, with each protein being composed of a specific sequence of amino acids. The sequence determines the protein's structure and function. In this case, the protein consists of 35 amino acids, which is crucial for calculating the corresponding mRNA sequence.

Genetic Code

The genetic code is the set of rules by which information encoded in mRNA is translated into proteins. Each amino acid is specified by a sequence of three nucleotides, known as a codon. Understanding this relationship is essential for determining how many nucleotides are needed to code for a given number of amino acids.

mRNA Synthesis

mRNA (messenger RNA) is synthesized from DNA during the process of transcription. The mRNA serves as a template for protein synthesis during translation. For every amino acid in a protein, three nucleotides in the mRNA are required, which is key to calculating the total number of nucleotides needed for the 35 amino acids in the protein.