Question

Can someone help me understand what this question is asking?
What nucleotide change(s) could most efficiently transform a codon for the original so that the new amino acid is specified instead?

Answer 1

Well, I suppose that there is some context missing here. Perhaps this question is part of a chain of surrounding questions that you didn't post here.

As you surely know, codons are 3-nucleotide-bits that get translated into one amino acid each using a complementary tRNA. This is how 'GGG' is translated into Glycine.

Now, suppose you want to change the outcoming amino acid from Glycine ('GGG') into Arginine. There are a number of possible codons that make arginine. Examples: AGG, AGA, CGU, CGG. Now, some of these (AGG, CGG) are close to your original sequence (GGG). You would have to change only one nucleotide to get arginine instead of glycine. The other two possibilities would require changing two nucleotides.

It would be smarter to only change as few nucleotides as possible. This is due to the fact that mutation experiments have a higher success rate when you change fewer nucleotides. It doesn't matter if you only want to exchange one amino acid total, but it matters on a greater scale, say, if you want to change 3 or 4 consecutive amino acids.

Any follow-up questions? Hope I could help.

Answer 2

That makes sense thanks so much! It's regarding the von willebrand disease and there are more questions but I was only assigned to answer this one which may have been why it was a bit confusing

Answer 3

That's always the ache with homework :D

Well, glad we sorted that out :) Take care!