SOLUTION: The half-life of messenger RNA (mRNA) in the cytoplasm of a bacterial cell is approximately 3.3 minutes. Assuming continuous decay, if 3000 mRNA molecules are produced in a bacteri

Question 1058057: The half-life of messenger RNA (mRNA) in the cytoplasm of a bacterial cell is approximately 3.3 minutes. Assuming continuous decay, if 3000 mRNA molecules are produced in a bacterial cell before synthesis is suddenly halted, how long will it take for only 100 molecules to remain?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The half-life of messenger RNA (mRNA) in the cytoplasm of a bacterial cell is approximately 3.3 minutes
Assuming continuous decay, if 3000 mRNA molecules are produced in a bacterial cell before synthesis is suddenly halted, how long will it take for only 100 molecules to remain?
:
Use the decay formula; A = Ao*2(-t/h), where:
A = Amt remaining after t time (100)
Ao = Initial amt (3000 ml)
t = time of decay
h = half-life of substance (3.3 min)
:
3000*2^(-t/3.3) = 100
2^(-t/3.3) = 100/3000
2^(-t/3.3) = 1/30
Using nat logs
ln(2) =
*.693 = -3.401
=
= -4.907
t = -4.907 * -3.3
t = +16.2 min to decay to 100 molecules

RELATED QUESTIONS
The doubling period of a bacterial population is 20 minutes. At time t=90 minutes, the... (answered by josgarithmetic,MathTherapy)

John is doing some research for his biology homework, he reads that an average bacterial... (answered by lynnlo)

The doubling period of a bacterial population is 15 minutes. At time t= 120 minutes, the (answered by ikleyn)

An army of soldiers is marching down a road at 5 miles per hour. A messenger on horseback (answered by mangopeeler07)

an army of soldiers is marching down a road at 5 mph. a messenger on horseback rides from (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com,aajayunlimited,ikleyn)

A radioactive material has a half-life of 3 minutes. If you begin with 512000 radioactive (answered by ewatrrr)

A radioactive material has a half-life of 3 minutes. if you begin with 512000 radioactive (answered by Boreal)

1 pt) A bacteria culture initially contains 2000 bacteria and doubles every half hour. (answered by stanbon)

The doubling period of bacterial population in 20 minutes. At time t = 120 minutes, the... (answered by ikleyn,rothauserc)