Question

After determining that the genetic code is read in triplet codons, the question arose as to whether the code was overlapping or nonoverlapping. If the code was overlapping, a change in one nucleotide could result in a change in how many amino acids?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 5

Answer 1

C) 3

Explanation:

If the code is overlapping and the mutation is for single nucleotide. Then it could result in a change in 3 amino acid .

In an overlapping code, consecutive (succeeding) amino acids are encoded by codons that share some consecutive bases. Example: the last two bases of one codon may also be the first two bases of the next codon (succeeding codon). Take any sequence for example, for the sequence AUUGCUCAG in an overlapping code, the first three amino acids are encoded by the triplets AUU, UUG, and UGC if the overlap is two bases.