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TMV infects a variety of plants, includi...

TMV infects a variety of plants, including Zinnia and tobacco. When TMV-RNA is used for infection, the amino acid sequence of the coat protein of the progeny is the same whether the host is Zinnia or tobacco. This proves that the genetic code is :-

A

degenerate

B

universal

C

unidirectional

D

non-overlapping

Text Solution

AI Generated Solution

The correct Answer is:
To solve the question regarding the genetic code based on the behavior of TMV (Tobacco Mosaic Virus) when it infects different plants, we can follow these steps: ### Step-by-Step Solution: 1. **Understanding TMV and Its Infection**: - TMV is a virus that infects various plants, including Zinnia and tobacco. It uses its RNA to replicate and produce proteins in the host plant. 2. **Observation of Amino Acid Sequence**: - The problem states that when TMV-RNA is used for infection, the amino acid sequence of the coat protein of the progeny is the same in both Zinnia and tobacco. This indicates that the same genetic information is being translated into the same protein structure regardless of the host plant. 3. **Analyzing the Options**: - The options provided are: A. Degenerate B. Universal C. Unidirectional D. Non-overlapping 4. **Evaluating Each Option**: - **A. Degenerate**: This refers to the genetic code having multiple codons that can code for the same amino acid. However, the question emphasizes that the same RNA produces the same protein in different hosts, which does not directly prove degeneracy. - **B. Universal**: This suggests that the genetic code is the same across different organisms. Since the same TMV-RNA produces the same coat protein in different plants, this supports the idea that the genetic code is universal. - **C. Unidirectional**: This refers to the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein. While true, it does not specifically address the observation made in the question. - **D. Non-overlapping**: This means that each nucleotide in the genetic code is part of only one codon. While this is a characteristic of the genetic code, it does not relate to the observation made in the question. 5. **Conclusion**: - The correct answer is **B. Universal**, as the same amino acid sequence is produced in different hosts, indicating that the genetic code is consistent across different organisms. ### Final Answer: The genetic code is **Universal**. ---
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