[Campbell Biology P.411] Which statement correctly describes codons in mRNA? | Practice Question

Which statement correctly describes codons in mRNA?

  • A: Codons are sequences of overlapping nucleotide triplets.
  • B: All 64 possible codons code for specific amino acids.
  • C: Codons must be read in the correct reading frame for proper protein synthesis.
  • D: A single codon can specify multiple different amino acids.

Explanation

The passage states that 'Codons must be read in the correct reading frame.' This is crucial because a shift in the reading frame due to an insertion or deletion can drastically alter the resulting protein. Also, genetic information is encoded as nonoverlapping triplets, and not all 64 codons specify amino acids 3 are stop codons .