There are 200 amino acids, and 6 nucleotides available
6^3 = 216 [need 3 codons to code for the amino acids]

the question asks: how many codons will be redundant?

Question

There are 200 amino acids, and 6 nucleotides available
6^3 = 216 [need 3 codons to code for the amino acids]

the question asks: how many codons will be redundant?

blues · Answer

You need 3 bases to code for an amino acid, not 3 codons. A codon is 3 bases.

You have 216 possibilities and you need to code for 200 different amino acids. So how many coding possibilities will be 'left over' once all 200 amino acids have codons assigned to them?

anonymous · Answer

16?
but according the wobble, wouldnt there be more redundant?

blues · Answer

Not in this little to system. I think 16 is correct. Mind you, this is hardly a question you'd ever have to answer in real science.

anonymous · Answer

and do i need to take account in the stop codons too?

blues · Answer

Probably a good idea. Technically you only need one...

anonymous · Answer

ok thanks so much