Question

1. Five different bases and codon length of one results in a maximum of 5 codons, and five different bases and codon length of two results in a maximum of 25 codons.

Which mathematical formula represents the relationship between the number of bases, codon length, and number of codons possible? (number of bases = n

codon length = L)

number of codons: ___________

2. Calculate the minimum codon length needed to define four amino acids. With five bases, what is the minimum codon length needed to specify four codons?

minimum codon length:____________

3. If there are five different types of bases in mRNA instead of four, what will be the minimum codon length needed to specify for 4, 20, and 30 different codons, or amino acids?

4 codons: _____base(s)

20 codons:_____base(s)

30 codons:______base(s)

Answer 1

1. Number of codons = n^{​​​​​​​​​​L}​​​ where n= number of bases, L= codon length.

2. n^{​​​​​​L}​​​​​ If L= 1 and n=5 , then 5¹= 5. So minimum codon length needed to specify four codons is 1.

3. According to n^{​​​​​​L}​​​​​ if there are 5 bases and codon length is one 5¹= 5 minimum length to specify 4 codons is 1.

If there are 5 bases and codon length is 2 then 5² = 25. Minimum length to specify 20 codons is 2.

Likewise if n is 5 and L is 3 then 5³ =125, minimum length to specify 30 codons is 3.