A segment of an mRNA molecule has the sequence 5'-AUGGCUCUCGAGAGAUAA-3'. If the first codon is a start codon and the last codon is a stop codon, how many amino acids are encoded?

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Multiple Choice

A segment of an mRNA molecule has the sequence 5'-AUGGCUCUCGAGAGAUAA-3'. If the first codon is a start codon and the last codon is a stop codon, how many amino acids are encoded?

Explanation:
In translation, the reading frame starts at a start codon and ends at a stop codon, with each codon in between encoding one amino acid. The sequence begins with AUG, the start codon that also codes for methionine, and ends with UAA, the stop codon that does not encode an amino acid. Splitting into codons from the start gives: AUG | GCU | CUC | GAG | AGA | UAA. The middle codons translate to Ala, Leu, Glu, and Arg, while the first AUG provides Met. Excluding the stop codon, there are five amino acids in total.

In translation, the reading frame starts at a start codon and ends at a stop codon, with each codon in between encoding one amino acid. The sequence begins with AUG, the start codon that also codes for methionine, and ends with UAA, the stop codon that does not encode an amino acid. Splitting into codons from the start gives: AUG | GCU | CUC | GAG | AGA | UAA. The middle codons translate to Ala, Leu, Glu, and Arg, while the first AUG provides Met. Excluding the stop codon, there are five amino acids in total.

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