If a protein had 450 amino acids, how many base pairs long was the DNA that coded for it?
1 Answer
1350 DNA base pairs.
Explanation:
Each amino acid is coded by a codon formed by a set of 3 DNA pairs. So it would require 450 sets of 3 DNA pairs to code for a protein with 450 amino acids.
As well as the DNA pairs to code for the actual amino acid there would also have to be a set of three DNA pairs to start the transcription and a set of three DNA pairs to stop the transcription
The DNA requires a second complimentary strand than bonds to the strand that codes for the protein.
However the complementary strand does not code for the protein. DNA can be read differently on the two complementary strands creating different proteins and instructions for the cellular processes, In fact DNA can be read in both directions so that the same strand or parts of the same strand that code for the desired protein of 450 amino acid read differently can create a different protein or cellular instruction.
