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Reading Frame

Genetics as it applies to evolution, molecular biology, and medical aspects.

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Reading Frame

Postby skaterarty » Mon Nov 08, 2010 4:44 pm

Hi there,
Could someone be so kind as to explain the concept of reading frame to me and how to determine what the reading frame of a sequence is?
For example: 5'....TAACGTAGGCTTGACCTCCAAGCAATCGAT...3'
Thank you :)
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Postby canalon » Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:35 pm

DNA is translated to proteins in triplets (3nt->1AA) The reading frame is how you start reading a sequence. There are 3 possible reading frame for each sequence. In your case you could start with the T and read :
TAA CGT AGG...
start with the next nucleotide to get:
AAC GTA GGC...
Or the 3rd frame:
ACG TAG GCT...
If you would move one over, you would just be back on th efirst one (minus one AA). The correct reading frame is usually starting with a methionine (ATG)
Patrick

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any proof. (Ashley Montague)
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Postby JackBean » Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:34 am

however, you should remember, there are 6 reading frames! Three for each strand ;)
http://www.biolib.cz/en/main/

Cis or trans? That's what matters.
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Postby skaterarty » Tue Nov 09, 2010 5:09 pm

Thank you for your help Jack Bean and Canalon!
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