The genetic code is redundant. What is meant by this statement?
A) A single codon can specify the addition of more than one amino acid.
B) The genetic code is different for different domains of organisms.
C) The genetic code is universal (the same for all organisms).
D) More than one codon can specify the addition of the same amino acid.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The redundancy of the genetic code refers to the fact that multiple codons can code for the same amino acid. This is because there are 64 possible combinations of three nucleotides (codons) but only 20 amino acids that need to be specified. Therefore, some amino acids are specified by more than one codon. For example, both the codons UUU and UUC code for the amino acid phenylalanine.

The Genetic Code Is Redundant