Final answer:
To identify the amino acids encoded by a given DNA sequence, the DNA is first transcribed into mRNA, which is then translated into a sequence of amino acids. The mRNA is complementary to the template strand of DNA, using U in place of T, and each set of three nucleotides (codon) in the mRNA corresponds to a specific amino acid as per the genetic code.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the sequence of amino acids encoded by a DNA sequence, we must first transcribe the DNA into messenger RNA (mRNA) and then translate that into amino acids. We are given a nontemplate strand of DNA with the sequence 3'......GCT GTC AAA TTC GAT......5'. Knowing that mRNA is complementary to the DNA template strand and that RNA uses uracil (U) instead of thymine (T), we can figure out the complementary mRNA sequence.
Since we are provided with the nontemplate (coding) strand, the mRNA sequence will be very similar but with uracil in place of thymine. Therefore, the mRNA sequence will be 5'......CGA CAG UUU AAG CUA......3'. Using the standard genetic code chart, we can then translate this mRNA sequence into a string of amino acids by matching each codon (group of three nucleotides) to its corresponding amino acid.
For example, the codon CGA codes for the amino acid arginine, CAG for glutamine, UUU for phenylalanine, AAG for lysine, and CUA for leucine. Therefore, the sequence of amino acids encoded by this DNA sequence will be arginine-glutamine-phenylalanine-lysine-leucine.