BIOMOLECULES AND ENZYMES

Detailed explanation-1: -Definition. A codon is a DNA or RNA sequence of three nucleotides (a trinucleotide) that forms a unit of genomic information encoding a particular amino acid or signaling the termination of protein synthesis (stop signals). There are 64 different codons: 61 specify amino acids and 3 are used as stop signals.

Detailed explanation-2: -Reading the genetic code For example, the amino acid phenylalanine (Phe) is specified by the codons UUU and UUC, and the amino acid leucine (Leu) is specified by the codons CUU, CUC, CUA, and CUG. Methionine is specified by the codon AUG, which is also known as the start codon.

Detailed explanation-3: -This is where codons come in. If we read the RNA in triplets, every unique set of three nucleotides can code for a different amino acid. There are 64 different combinations of triplet nucleotides, which gives more than enough to have one triplet per amino acid.

Detailed explanation-4: -DNA is comprised of 4 different nucleotides (A, C, T, and G), whereas proteins are made of 20 amino acids. Codons are nucleotide triplets that encode for amino acids. Thus, in order for the 4 nucleotides to account for all 20 amino acids, a minimum of 3 base pairs are required.

Detailed explanation-5: -Answer and Explanation: Three codons are needed to specify three amino acids. Codons can be described as messengers that are located on the messenger RNA (mRNA). It is a sequence of three nucleotides that code for one specific amino acid; therefore, every three nucleotides represent one codon.