Abacterial gene 1,800 nucleotides long can code at most for a polypeptide of how many amino acids?

600 amino acids

Explanation:

The sequence of nucleotide bases in the DNA specifies the sequence of nucleotides in the mRNA, which subsequently specifies the sequence of amino acids in the polypeptide chain.

Nucleotide bases on mRNA are read three at a time, since there are 4 nucleotides for 20 amino acids. Hence, every three nucleotides in an mRNA specifies the addition of one amino acid to the growing polypeptide. Each three sequential nucleotides that codes for a specific amino acid is called a CODON.

Having established that amino acids are coded for by a series of three nucleotides (codon), therefore a bacterial gene 1800 nucleotides long can code for at most 600 amino acids.

3 nucleotides = 1 codon

1800 nucleotides= 1800/3 × 1=

600 codons

Also, 1 codon = 1 amino acid

Therefore, 600 codons = 600 amino acids.