If a specific gene code for a polypeptide is 120 amino acids long, approximately how many nucleotides long is the mRNA that codes for this polypeptide?
a
30
b
480
c
360
d
40
To determine how many nucleotides long the mRNA that codes for a polypeptide of 120 amino acids is, we need to understand the basics of the genetic code.
Each amino acid in a protein is coded for by a group of three nucleotides in mRNA, which is known as a codon. Since there are 120 amino acids, we would need 120 codons to code for them.
Now, let's calculate the total number of nucleotides:
120 amino acids * 3 nucleotides/amino acid = 360 nucleotides
Therefore, c. 360 is the correct answer.