Question

a portion of an mrna sequence and a codon chart are shown.
5 ucu ugu cga 3
based on the codon chart, what is the sequence of amino acids that is produced when this mrna is translated?

Explanation:

Step1: Translate UCU

The first codon is UCU. Looking at the codon chart, when the first base is U, second is C, third is U (wait, no: first base U, second base C, third base U? Wait, no, the codon is UCU. First base U, second base C, third base U? Wait, the codon chart: first mRNA base (left), second (top), third (right). So for UCU: first base U, second base C, third base U? Wait, no, the codon is UCU. Let's check the chart: first base U, second base C, third base U? Wait, the rows are first base (U, C, A, G), columns are second base (U, C, A, G), and the rightmost column is third base (U, C, A, G). So for codon UCU: first base U (row U), second base C (column C), third base U (rightmost column U? Wait, no, the cells are in the row (first base) and column (second base), and within that cell, the third base is the sub - cell. Wait, looking at the chart, for first base U, second base C: the cell has UCU, UCC, UCA, UCG, and the amino acid is Ser. So UCU codes for Ser.

Step2: Translate UGU

The second codon is UGU. First base U, second base G, third base U. Looking at the chart: first base U, second base G, third base U: the cell has UGU, UGC, UGA, UGG. UGU codes for Cys.

Step3: Translate CGA

The third codon is CGA. First base C, second base G, third base A. Looking at the chart: first base C, second base G, third base A: the cell has CGU, CGC, CGA, CGG, and the amino acid is Arg.

Answer:

Ser - Cys - Arg