What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you see the letters C-A-T? The first thing you probably thought of was a cute fury animal. When it comes to our human bodies those letters have a different meaning. C-A-T is actually a code for valine. Valine is one of the 20 amino acids used in our bodies to create all the different proteins necessary for all of our body functions. Those letters are just a piece of our lengthy and extensive genetic code.
So, how does C-A-T mean valine? In genetics those letters C-A-T are actually abbreviations for the nucleotides found in our bodies. C is for cytosine, A is for adenine and T is for thymine. We need apply the following mRNA base-paring rules to create a new code: adenine pairs with uracil and guanine pairs with cytosine. This is how we can make the complimentary mRNA strand of G-U-A for C-A-T.
We are not done yet at this point. We now have to decode the new letter sequence made. To help us do this we need to use a codon chart. A codon chart helps us decipher the mRNA codes into actual amino acids. The chart is very easy to use. You start in the center of the chart with the first letter, which in our case is G. Then, from that letter you move away from the center of the chart to the outside as you line up with the next letters. In our case it would be the letters "U "and "A" until you reach the end. At the third final letter you will see the name of the amino acid (valine) for the code you just broke. These steps can easily be repeated decipher any mRNA sequence.
So, how does C-A-T mean valine? In genetics those letters C-A-T are actually abbreviations for the nucleotides found in our bodies. C is for cytosine, A is for adenine and T is for thymine. We need apply the following mRNA base-paring rules to create a new code: adenine pairs with uracil and guanine pairs with cytosine. This is how we can make the complimentary mRNA strand of G-U-A for C-A-T.
We are not done yet at this point. We now have to decode the new letter sequence made. To help us do this we need to use a codon chart. A codon chart helps us decipher the mRNA codes into actual amino acids. The chart is very easy to use. You start in the center of the chart with the first letter, which in our case is G. Then, from that letter you move away from the center of the chart to the outside as you line up with the next letters. In our case it would be the letters "U "and "A" until you reach the end. At the third final letter you will see the name of the amino acid (valine) for the code you just broke. These steps can easily be repeated decipher any mRNA sequence.