GENETIC CODON Meaning and
Definition
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A genetic codon refers to a three-base sequence in DNA or RNA that corresponds to a particular amino acid or serves as a signal for the initiation or termination of protein synthesis. It is an integral component of the genetic code, which determines the specific sequence of amino acids in a protein.
The genetic code is comprised of a set of codons, each consisting of three nucleotide bases. These bases, represented by the letters A, T, C, and G (adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine, respectively), encode the instructions for protein synthesis. There are a total of 64 possible codons, of which 61 code for amino acids, while the remaining three serve as stop signals for protein synthesis.
Different codons specify different amino acids, allowing for the diverse range of proteins that exist in living organisms. For example, the codon AUG codes for the amino acid methionine and also serves as the initiation codon, marking the start of protein synthesis. The codon UAG, on the other hand, is a termination codon that signals the end of protein synthesis.
Understanding the genetic codon is crucial for decoding the information stored within the DNA sequence and translating it into functional proteins. This knowledge is fundamental in molecular biology, genetics, and various fields of biomedical research, as it provides insights into the genetic basis of diseases, genetic engineering techniques, and evolutionary relationships among organisms.
Common Misspellings for GENETIC CODON
- fenetic codon
- venetic codon
- benetic codon
- henetic codon
- yenetic codon
- tenetic codon
- gwnetic codon
- gsnetic codon
- gdnetic codon
- grnetic codon
- g4netic codon
- g3netic codon
- gebetic codon
- gemetic codon
- gejetic codon
- gehetic codon
- genwtic codon
- genstic codon
- gendtic codon
- genrtic codon
Etymology of GENETIC CODON
The word "genetic codon" combines two terms: "genetic" and "codon".
- "Genetic" comes from the Greek word "genetikos", which means "related to genes". It is derived from the word "genesis", meaning "origin" or "birth", ultimately from the Greek word "gignesthai", which means "to be born" or "to be produced".
- "Codon" is a term coined in the 1960s to describe a specific sequence of three nucleotides that correspond to a specific amino acid or a stop signal during protein synthesis. The term was formed by combining "co-" from "coding" and "-don" from "nucleotide". "Coding" refers to the process of translating genetic information into a specific code, and "nucleotide" refers to the building blocks of DNA and RNA.
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