Question

If there are 999 bases in an RNA that codes for a protein with 333 amino acids and the base at position 901 is deleted such that the length of the RNA becomes 998 bases, how many codons will be altered?

• A. 1
• B. 11
• C. 33
• D. 333

Answer 1

The correct option is C 33

The given RNA has 999 bases and it codes for a protein having 333 amino acids.

Here 999 bases can be written as 900 bases + 99 bases.

Since three bases make 1 codon, 999 bases will make 333 codons.

As per the question, there is a deletion happening in the base at 901th position. Hence there will be no change in the first 900 bases and there will be a change only in the last 99 bases.

Thus, the number of codons getting altered due to the change in 99 bases will be 33.