4 . DNA polymerase is an essential protein in the microbial cell. You have a fri

Question

4. DNA polymerase is an essential protein in the microbial cell. You have a friend (graduate student in Microbiology) that tells you he has a strain of E. coli with a mutation in the gene encoding DNA polymerase. While your first reaction is that your friend must be mistaken, after thinking about it you accept that he could really have the strain he claims. Based on what you learned in MIBO 3500 about mutations and the genetic code, you realize that there are two possible explanations for the existence (survival) of your friend’s strain. Consider them.

Explanation / Answer

In this question the two possible conmbinations are as follows:

DNA level

TTC

mRNA level

AAG

AAA

Protein level

Lys

Lys

DNA level

TTC

TCC

mRNA level

AAG

AGG

Protein level

Lys

Arg

In the above mentioned tablelys, a basic amino acid, is replaced by the Arg, a basic amino acid, hence, the overall function of the protein is not affected. Hence DNA polymerase still performs its function.

These two are the plausible explanation for the survival of the strain.

DNA level

TTC

mRNA level

AAG

AAA

Protein level

Lys

Lys

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