Decoding The Genetic Code

• What is the primary start codon in protein synthesis?

  $AUG$
• Match the type of codon with its function:

  Start Codon ↔️ $AUG$

  Stop Codons ↔️ $UAA, UAG, UGA$
• What is the genetic code used for by living cells?

  Protein synthesis
• Why are reading frames crucial in protein synthesis?

  Determine amino acid sequence
• Steps to identify start codons, stop codons, and reading frames

  1️⃣ Identify start codon ($AUG$)

  2️⃣ Identify stop codons ($UAA, UAG, UGA$)

  3️⃣ Determine the reading frame
• What must an ORF include to be valid?

  Start and stop codons
• Match the amino acid with its codon:

  Methionine ↔️ $AUG$

  Phenylalanine ↔️ $UUU, UUC$

  Leucine ↔️ $UUA, UUG$
• What is the amino acid sequence encoded by the ORF $AUG CUC GUA$?


  Met-Leu-Val
• What is the purpose of the ribosome binding assay?

  Identify codon-amino acid match
• What does it mean that the genetic code is nearly universal?

  Same codons for most organisms
• Match the organism with its variant genetic code:

  Ciliates ↔️ $UAA, UAG$ encode Glutamine

  Mitochondria (some fungi) ↔️ $CUA$ encodes Threonine