Question

Describe the wobble hypothesis.

Answer 1

Hint: Codon is defined as a sequence of three nucleotides which together form a unit of genetic code in DNA or RNA molecules. Genetic code tells about the relationship between the sequence of DNA bases such as Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, Thymine in a gene.

Complete answer:
The Wobble hypothesis demonstrates that normal base pairing can occur between nitrogen bases in positions 1 and 2 of codon and the corresponding bases 3 and 2 in the anticodon. Genetic code is defined as the set of rules utilized by cells to translate information encoded within genetic material such as DNA or RNA sequences of nucleotide triplets or codons into proteins.

Amino acids are defined as the organic compounds that constitute amine (NH2) and carboxyl (COOH) functional groups with side chains specific to amino acid. The amino acids are categorised into three groups names as:
1. Essential amino acids
2.Non-essential amino acids
3. Conditional amino acids
The nine essential amino acids include histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine. Amino acids play a role as the building blocks of proteins. Proteins are needed in catalysing the chemical reactions in the cell. The Wobble hypothesis shows presence with the phenomenon of degeneracy seen in the genetic code through tRNA recognition of more than one codon. mRNA is made up of four bases and codons are made up of three bases. Possible 64 codon configurations are present and thus there will be 64 tRNA and 64 amino acids are associated. As 21 amino acids are present which means some tRNA must bind multiple codons and give the same amino acid for different codon configuration.

Note: Another 3 codons that demonstrate an amino acid are start codons. The three letter nature of codons shows that four nucleotides are present in mRNA- A, U, G, C which gives different combinations.