A recent study of the genetic code has determined that the mRNA codons UCU, UCC, UCA, and UCG all code for the amino acid serine. What does this research finding suggest?
1 Answer
May 30, 2018
It's highly conserved
Explanation:
A highly conserved gene is an important gene, so important that the genetic code has multiple versions. Usually things that are essential to passing on genetic code or important basic processes are highly conserved, and often highly conserved in many species. So more than once the genetic code needed serine for something, and more than one process said, code for serine, we need it later.
Serine having four different codons means it's probably important evolution wise, for DNA or basic functions. It has backups should one version not work, and it has been needed more than once.
