If a protein had 450 amino acids, how many base pairs long was the DNA that coded for it?

Question

William Albracht · Accepted Answer

1350 DNA base pairs.

Since a codon made up of three DNA pairs codes for each amino acid, 450 sets of three DNA pairs would be needed to code for a protein containing 450 amino acids. # 450 xx 3 = 1350 # DNA pairs. A set of three DNA pairs would be required to initiate transcription as well as a set of three DNA pairs to terminate it, in addition to the DNA pairs that code for the actual amino acid. # 1350 + 6 = 1356# DNA pairs. A second complementary strand is needed by the DNA to form a bond with the strand that codes for the protein. DNA can be read in both directions, so the same strand or portions of the same strand that code for the desired protein of 450 amino acids read differently can create a different protein or cellular instruction. However, the complementary strand does not code for the protein. DNA can be read differently on the two complementary strands creating different proteins and instructions for the cellular processes.