The greatest variability among codons that specify the same amino acid occurs _________.
A)in the first two nucleotides of the triplet
B)in the last two nucleotides of the triplet
C)in the first and third nucleotides of the triplet
D)in the third nucleotide of the triplet
E)in the middle nucleotide of the triplet

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The third nucleotide of a codon is usually the least important in determining the amino acid that it specifies. This is because the genetic code is degenerate, meaning that there is more than one codon that can encode for the same amino acid. The third nucleotide of a codon is often referred to as the "wobble" position because it can tolerate some variability without affecting the amino acid that is specified. Therefore, the greatest variability among codons that specify the same amino acid occurs in the third position of the triplet.

The Greatest Variability Among Codons That Specify the Same Amino