Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
codon
noun
/ˈkoʊdɒn/
Definition
A codon is a sequence of three nucleotides in DNA or RNA that specifies a particular amino acid or start/stop signal during protein synthesis.
Examples
- The mRNA sequence is read in sets of three nucleotides, known as codons.
- Each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid in the resulting protein.
- Mutations in codons can lead to changes in the protein produced.
Meaning
The term codon refers to the fundamental units of genetic information that are needed to build proteins in living organisms.
Synonyms
- triplet
- genetic code
