Genetic Code and Wobble Hypothesis

The video discusses the degeneracy of the genetic code, where multiple codons can code for the same amino acid, making the code redundant yet unambiguous. The wobble hypothesis, proposed by Francis Crick, explains how the third base in a codon can vary without changing the resulting amino acid. This flexibility allows for fewer TRNAs than codons and provides a mechanism to protect against mutations, such as silent mutations, which do not alter the protein's amino acid sequence.

What is the primary reason for the degeneracy of the genetic code?

• Some amino acids are coded by multiple codons.

• Each amino acid is coded by a single codon.

• Codons are ambiguous in their coding.

• All codons code for multiple amino acids.

Who identified the degeneracy of the genetic code?

• James Watson

• Francis Crick

• Lagerkvist

• Rosalind Franklin

What does it mean when codons are described as unambiguous?

• They can change the amino acid sequence.

• They can code for multiple amino acids.

• They are not recognized by tRNA.

• They code for only one specific amino acid.

What is the main idea of the wobble hypothesis?

• The first base of a codon is flexible.

• The second base of a codon is flexible.

• All bases of a codon are flexible.

• The third base of a codon is flexible.

According to the wobble hypothesis, how many different codons can code for threonine?

• Five

• Four

• Three

• Two

How many tRNAs are there compared to the number of codons?

• More tRNAs than codons

• Fewer tRNAs than codons

• Equal number of tRNAs and codons

• No tRNAs for codons

What is the role of tRNA in the context of the wobble hypothesis?

• tRNA recognizes multiple codons due to wobble.

• tRNA changes the amino acid sequence.

• tRNA recognizes only one codon.

• tRNA does not interact with codons.

What is the advantage of the degeneracy of the genetic code?

• It makes the genetic code ambiguous.

• It protects against harmful mutations.

• It allows for more amino acids to be coded.

• It increases the rate of mutations.

What is a silent mutation?

• A mutation that changes the amino acid sequence.

• A mutation that deletes a codon.

• A mutation that does not change the amino acid sequence.

• A mutation that stops protein synthesis.

Which base position in a codon is most likely to result in a silent mutation if changed?

• All positions equally

• First

• Second

• Third