Which of the following nucleotide triplets best represents a codon?
A) a triplet separated spatially from other triplets
B) a triplet in the middle of a ribosomal RNA molecule
C) a triplet at the opposite end of tRNA from the attachment site of the amino acid
D) a triplet in the same reading frame as an upstream AUG
E) a sequence in tRNA at the 3' end

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A codon is a nucleotide triplet that codes for a specific amino acid during protein synthesis. It must be in the same reading frame as the upstream AUG to ensure the correct sequence of amino acids is synthesized. Option A and B are not relevant to the concept of codons. Option C refers to the anticodon triplet, which is complementary to the codon, but not the codon itself. Option E refers to the CCA triplet found at the 3' end of tRNA, which is responsible for attaching the amino acid, but not the codon.

Which of the Following Nucleotide Triplets Best Represents a Codon