Question

A particular mRNA is 300 nucleotides long. If a mutation in the middle of the sequence changed a codon from a AAA to a UAA then what would be a reasonable prediction? O The protein coded by this mRNA would not form due to a failure in initiation. O The protein coded by this mRNA would be the same size. O The protein coded by this mRNA would be shorter The protein coded by this mRNA would kill the cell. O The protein coded by this mRNA would be longer.

Answer 1

The protein coded by this mRNA would be shorter

Step-by-step explanation:

The translation process translates the nitrogenous bases present in the mRNA to the amino acids which bind to form a protein molecule.

The nitrogenous bases are read from the 5' to 3' direction in the form of triplets called codons. Each codon codes for a specific amino acid.

In the given question when a mutation changes the codon AAA which codes for lysine to UAA which has no amino acid thus it acts as a stop codon. This results in the shorter proteins as the translation process gets stopped at UAA codon.

Thus, the selected option is the correct answer.