a Could a genetic code be formulated ifnucleic acids had just two bases? b. If t

Question

a Could a genetic code be formulated ifnucleic acids had just two bases? b. If there were only two nucleotidebases, what is the minimum number of bases in sequence required toconstitute the genetic code? c. If it is possible to construct agenetic code with two bases, why did this not arise in nature– what are the constraints against having just twobases? d. What are the constraints againstnature successfully constructing a nucleic acid hereditary moleculewith six nucleotide bases? Please help! I am desperate. Ihave an idea of the answer, just have a hard time supportingthem. Like if theres 2 bases there has to be 5 in sequencebut why? I will rate you immediately. a Could a genetic code be formulated ifnucleic acids had just two bases? b. If there were only two nucleotidebases, what is the minimum number of bases in sequence required toconstitute the genetic code? c. If it is possible to construct agenetic code with two bases, why did this not arise in nature– what are the constraints against having just twobases? d. What are the constraints againstnature successfully constructing a nucleic acid hereditary moleculewith six nucleotide bases? Please help! I am desperate. Ihave an idea of the answer, just have a hard time supportingthem. Like if theres 2 bases there has to be 5 in sequencebut why? I will rate you immediately.

Explanation / Answer

With only   two nucleotide bases the minimum   number of bases in the   sequence  would be   five as   you said. It is because   if we   consider four in the sequence   then   the total number of combinations which are possible is 24 = 16  which   is less than the total number of   amino acids ,thus all   amino acids will not be encoded . If we consider 5 bases  in the sequence then   the total number of amino acids coded will be 25 = 32 ,which is the  first    number higher than the total number of amino acids . It is   quite possible  , as   the  total number of amino acids is   20 therefore all   will be coded atleast once . But   the problem with this would be that not all   the amino acids  will   be coded   twice , only few ( 32-20 =12 , out of these 1 is start codon & 3 are stopcodon , hence only 8 )   will have this privelege . Thus the genetic code will   loose it's property of   degeneracy Again   a nucleic acid  with    6 bases will   pose the same problem as   2   bases   with   a sequence of   5 i.e 62 = 32 Again   a nucleic acid  with    6 bases will   pose the same problem as   2   bases   with   a sequence of   5 i.e 62 = 32

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