Reading this chart really is simple when you completely understand it. This chart is here to decode the messenger RNA codes. DNA bases are matched as followed:
Adenine with Thymine
Cytosine with Guanine
But when these bases are translated into mRNA the base Thymine is replaced with Uricil. Therefore, the bases are now matched as demonstrated here:
Adenine with URICIL
Cytosine with Guanine
After you have decoded all of your DNA bases into the RNA bases you are ready to use the codon chart. How you determine your amino acids are by these steps:
Step 1: Decode the DNA sequence. For example; If your DNA sequence is TAC, then when you decode it, it will translate into the RNA, AUG.
Step 2: Use your new code, in this case it is AUG, to read the chart. How you begin to read the chart is you look at the left hand column in the row of "A" since that is your first letter in the code. Then look at the top row of the chart and find the column "U" since that is your second letter in the RNA code. Lastly, move your eyes accross to the "G" row on the right side of the chart. Where all thress letters meet you have your amino acid! Which in this case is "MET".
If you click on the "YOUTUBE" button at the top of the page, it will lead you to a video that will help explain how to use this complicated chart just a little more! I hope it helps!
Sources
(Kentucky Biology textbook by Miller Levine)
(http://www.iusd.org/uhs/cs2/images/Codon_Chart.gif
Adenine with Thymine
Cytosine with Guanine
But when these bases are translated into mRNA the base Thymine is replaced with Uricil. Therefore, the bases are now matched as demonstrated here:
Adenine with URICIL
Cytosine with Guanine
After you have decoded all of your DNA bases into the RNA bases you are ready to use the codon chart. How you determine your amino acids are by these steps:
Step 1: Decode the DNA sequence. For example; If your DNA sequence is TAC, then when you decode it, it will translate into the RNA, AUG.
Step 2: Use your new code, in this case it is AUG, to read the chart. How you begin to read the chart is you look at the left hand column in the row of "A" since that is your first letter in the code. Then look at the top row of the chart and find the column "U" since that is your second letter in the RNA code. Lastly, move your eyes accross to the "G" row on the right side of the chart. Where all thress letters meet you have your amino acid! Which in this case is "MET".
If you click on the "YOUTUBE" button at the top of the page, it will lead you to a video that will help explain how to use this complicated chart just a little more! I hope it helps!
Sources
(Kentucky Biology textbook by Miller Levine)
(http://www.iusd.org/uhs/cs2/images/Codon_Chart.gif