How many codons equal one amino acid?
The correct answer and explanation is :
Answer: Three codons equal one amino acid.
Explanation:
In molecular biology, codons are sequences of three nucleotide bases (adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine) in mRNA (messenger RNA) that code for specific amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. The relationship between codons and amino acids is fundamental in the process of protein synthesis, which occurs in two main stages: transcription and translation.
The genetic code is made up of 64 possible codons, but only 20 amino acids are typically incorporated into proteins. This means that multiple codons can code for the same amino acid, a phenomenon known as the redundancy or degeneracy of the genetic code. For example, both the codons UUU and UUC code for the amino acid phenylalanine.
When mRNA is transcribed from DNA, it carries the genetic information needed for protein synthesis. The mRNA is read by ribosomes in a process known as translation. During translation, the ribosome reads the mRNA in sets of three nucleotides at a time, which form a codon. Each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid. As the ribosome moves along the mRNA, transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules bring the appropriate amino acids, and these amino acids are linked together to form a polypeptide chain.
The sequence of codons in the mRNA determines the order of amino acids in the polypeptide chain, and this sequence ultimately determines the structure and function of the resulting protein. The chain continues to grow until a stop codon is encountered, signaling the end of protein synthesis.
In summary, the genetic code uses sets of three nucleotides (codons) to specify which amino acid is added next in the growing protein chain. Therefore, each codon corresponds to one amino acid, and the three-nucleotide pattern is crucial in accurately translating genetic information into functional proteins.