October 14, 2015
Olga Naomi Sokolova
Why is there redundancy in the genetic code? Does this seem like a useful feature of the genetic code? Why or why not?
There is redundancy because there are more codons than there are amino acids, so quite a few amino acids are represented by more than one codon. This is beneficial because if there is a mistake during transcription that damages one of the codons, a visible and detrimental mutation may not occur because all of the others would still be able to code for it correctly.
2) Why is it postulated that the initial genetic code was doublets rather than triplets? Do you find the evidence convincing? Why or why not?
3) Why is it hypothesized that RNA evolved prior to DNA? Are you convinced?
Olga Naomi Sokolova
Why is there redundancy in the genetic code? Does this seem like a useful feature of the genetic code? Why or why not?
There is redundancy because there are more codons than there are amino acids, so quite a few amino acids are represented by more than one codon. This is beneficial because if there is a mistake during transcription that damages one of the codons, a visible and detrimental mutation may not occur because all of the others would still be able to code for it correctly.
2) Why is it postulated that the initial genetic code was doublets rather than triplets? Do you find the evidence convincing? Why or why not?
3) Why is it hypothesized that RNA evolved prior to DNA? Are you convinced?