How many nucleotides make an amino acid?

Answer 1

3 are needed.

As there are 20 amino acids used in proteins, each amino acid would have to be encoded by a minimum of three nucleotides. For example, a code of two consecutive nucleotides could specify a maximum of 16 (42) different amino acids, excluding stop and start signals. A code of three consecutive nucleotides has 64(43) different members and thus can easily accommodate the 20 amino acids plus a signal to stop protein synthesis.

Answer 2

Three deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) nucleodites complimentarily hydrogen bond with 3 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) nucleotides. Each set of three DNA or mRNA nucleotides is called a codon. The mRNA goes out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm to a ribosome (assuming eukaryote). A codon (3 nucleotides) of mRNA then hydrogen bonds with the anti-codon portion of the tRNA molecule, which has previously been "loaded" with an amino acid. So, 3 NUCLEOTIDES CODE FOR EACH AMINO ACID. However, more than one set of nucleotides can code for the same amino acid (called degeneracy), and also, the third nucleotide of a specific codon can usually change and still code for the same amino acid (called "wobble"). So definitely 3 nucleotides code for an amino acid, but more than one codon can code for the same amino acid (remember, though, that one codon CAN NOT code for more than one amino acid).

Answer 3

Codons are needed to denote amino acids. You need 20 codons to denote 20 amino acids. You need additional two codons to denote start and stop the synthesis of protein molecule. There are four types of nucleotides. They can denote only four codons. So you have to take second sets of nucleotides. Now that you have 4*4, that is 16 options available to you. These 16 options can not denote the 22 options that you need. So the third sets of four nucleotides has to be taken. Now that you have 4*4*4, that is 64 options available to you. So with three nucleotides, you can easily have more that enough options to denote the 22 options that you need to denote the amino acids and start and stop codons.

Answer 4

You have confused the building blocks of genes, nucleotides, with the building blocks of proteins, amino acids. Your question makes no sense then.

Answer 5

Three nucleotides specify each amino acid.

Answer 6

Three nucleotides make up a codon, which codes for one amino acid. Each nucleotide in the codon represents a specific amino acid based on the genetic code.

Answer 7

billions per strand of DNA

Answer 8

3