Question

Assuming 20 common amino acids and 20 different monosaccharide subunits that are available for construction of polypeptides and oligosaccharides, respectively, compare the possible variations of these macromolecules using a hypothetical hexameric oligomer. 206 possible variations for both polypeptides and oligosaccharides 620 variations for both polypeptide and oligosaccharides 206 variations for polypeptides and orders of magnitude greater for oligosaccharides 206 variations for oligosaccharides and orders of magnitude greater for polypeptides

Answer 1

Ans: It is given that we have 20 common amino acids and 20 different monosaccharide subunits. We have given that the polypeptide and oligosaccharides contain six of these monomers. Since we have 20 different monosaccharide and each can be a monomer of this oligomer so total number of possibility is 20⁶ which is equal to 64,000,000. So from all the given options, the option C is correct that is 206 variations for polypeptides and order of magnitude greater for oligosachharides.

However each amino acid is distict from the rest and each can be utilized in the oligomer so i think magnitude of the variation for polypeptides should also be very high.