Final answer:
CAU on mRNA translates to the amino acid Histidine according to the genetic code.The sequence CAU codes for the amino acid Histidine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The codon CAU in mRNA corresponds to the amino acid Histidine. When translating the mRNA sequence to a protein sequence, each set of three nucleotides, called a codon, specifies a particular amino acid. According to the genetic code, CAU is the codon for Histidine. Therefore, the correct answer to the question 'A part of an mRNA has the sequence CAU. Which amino acid is coded by CAU?' is c) Histidine.The mRNA sequence CAU corresponds to the amino acid histidine. The genetic code is a set of rules that defines how the sequence of nucleotides in mRNA is translated into the sequence of amino acids in a protein. Each three-nucleotide sequence, called a codon, codes for a specific amino acid or serves as a start or stop signal for protein synthesis.In the case of CAU, it is a codon that codes for the amino acid histidine.
The genetic code is degenerate, meaning that multiple codons can code for the same amino acid. In this case, CAU is one of the codons that specifies histidine.Histidine is an essential amino acid, meaning that it cannot be synthesized by the human body and must be obtained through the diet. It plays important roles in various biological processes, including serving as a precursor for the synthesis of other molecules and participating in enzyme catalysis.Therefore, the correct answer is:c) Histidine