Reading frame

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In genetics, a reading frame is a contiguous, non-overlapping sequence of base triplets on the DNA or mRNA , with three possible reading frames for a single-stranded mRNA and six for a double-stranded DNA - since transcription is basically possible here from both strands possible reading frames.

Example: The sequence "AGTGCTGAC" can be read in three different ways:

  1. AGT GCT GAC
  2. AG TGC TGA C
  3. A GTG CTG AC

A reading grid must not be confused with a reading frame . The latter is a DNA segment between a start codon and a stop codon in the same reading frame, which contains a variable number (usually> 100) of meaningful codons.