Codon

Author:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

Last updated on: 29.10.2020

Synonym(s)

Code triplet; Code word

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DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

A codon (plural: codons ) is defined as the sequence of 3 consecutive ribonucleotides which signals the incorporation of 1 amino acid each in an mRNA. The 4 standard ribonucleotides (A, C, G, U) make 64 codons possible. Of these 64 possible codons, 61 code for one of the 20 amino acids found in proteins.

3 codons (UAA, UAG and UGA) signal a termination in the protein synthesis (stop codons).

The codons AUG and GUG act as initiation codons, also called start codons, in the initiation phase of translation. Some amino acids can be defined by several codons.

Authors

Last updated on: 29.10.2020

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer