What determines the order of amino acids in a protein?

Prepare for the PLTW Biomedical Science Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question comes with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

What determines the order of amino acids in a protein?

Explanation:
The order of amino acids in a protein is set by the sequence of nucleotides in the gene that encodes that protein. This genetic information is transcribed into mRNA, and each codon—three nucleotides—specifies a particular amino acid. The ribosome reads these codons and the corresponding tRNAs bring in the matching amino acids, linking them in the exact order dictated by the nucleotide sequence. Sugars and lipids aren’t information carriers for protein construction, and the sequence of amino acids in the protein is the result of decoding the nucleotide sequence, not the thing that determines it. So, the nucleotide sequence is the determinant.

The order of amino acids in a protein is set by the sequence of nucleotides in the gene that encodes that protein. This genetic information is transcribed into mRNA, and each codon—three nucleotides—specifies a particular amino acid. The ribosome reads these codons and the corresponding tRNAs bring in the matching amino acids, linking them in the exact order dictated by the nucleotide sequence. Sugars and lipids aren’t information carriers for protein construction, and the sequence of amino acids in the protein is the result of decoding the nucleotide sequence, not the thing that determines it. So, the nucleotide sequence is the determinant.

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