Question

An mRNA strand is 108 nucleotides long. The maximum number

of amino acids that could form in the resultant polypeptide chain is

Answer 1

36 amino acids

Step-by-step explanation:

A messenger RNA (mRNA) is a type of RNA formed during transcription of DNA. mRNA contains nucleotide bases that are read in a group of three i.e. triplet called CODON. Each codon specifies a particular amino acid when translated.

Hence, in an mRNA strand that is 108 nucleotides long. This mRNA sequence will be read in three's with each three nucleotide corresponding to one amino acid. Hence, to get the maximum number of amino acids that could form in the resultant polypeptide chain, we divide as follows:

108 bases ÷ 3 bases (codon)

= 36 amino acids