Question

How many nucleotides are in 12 mRNA codons?

a. 12

b. 24

c. 36

d. 48

Short answer

In each of the 12 codons of mRNA, there are 36 nucleotide bases.

Step-by-step solution

step-1: Introduction

A single-stranded RNA molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA) is complementary to one of a gene's DNA strands.

step-2: Explanation of correct answer

Option (c) 36 numbers. This is caused by genetic code degeneration. The degeneracy of genetic coding states that there are 64 codes of three nucleotides for every 20 amino acids. When a codon is a singlet (4¹=4), there are only four possible combinations of A,U,G, and C. It can make 16 distinct combinations (4²)as a doublet, but it can produce 64 different combinations as a triplet (4³), which is enough to encode for 20 amino acids. Because triplets comprise three nucleotides.

$12\times 3=36$

there are a total of 36 nucleotides in 12 codons for 12 mRNA.

step-3: Explanation of incorrect answer

Option (a) 12 number. This number is not possible because the number of nucleotide asked is for $12mRNA$ only . We can get this number of nucleotides when $4mRNA$ is asked .
Option (b) 24.This number is not possible because number of nucleotide asked is for only$12mRNA$ . We can get this number of nucleotides when$8mRNA$ is asked.

Option (d) 48 numbers. This number is not possible because number of nucleotide asked is for only $12mRNA$. We can get this number of nucleotides when $16mRNA$is asked.