How Many Codons Code for Amino Acids

Introduction

A single codon is made up of three nucleotide bases. A single amino acid is represented by each codon.Let us study in a bit detail. Amino acids are that type of molecules which are combined to form proteins. Amino acids and proteins both are the building blocks of life. When proteins are digested or broken down then amino acids are left and the human body uses amino acids to make proteins to help the body like :

• Break down into food

• Grow

• Repair body tissue as well

• Perform many other body functions

Amino acids are also known as amphoteric because amino acids have both acidic and basic properties; this is the reason why it is called amphoteric and the predominant form of the amino acid is based on the pH of the solution.

Codons

Codon. When individuals discuss the genetic code, they are referring to the fact that DNA has an informative code that enables it to produce the proteins an organism requires to function. The messenger RNA is produced using the DNA as a template, and the specific protein is produced using the messenger RNA as a template. A set of nucleotides make up DNA and the complementary messenger RNA. These nucleotides are frequently denoted with the letters A, U, C, and G in RNA. A codon is composed of a group of three nucleotides. These codons, which consist of a series of three bases followed by three more bases, three more bases, and so on, are found in abundance in messenger RNA.

Each codon gives the cell instructions on whether to start constructing a protein chain, add a particular amino acid to the expanding protein chain, or stop building a protein chain altogether. For instance, the messenger RNA codon GCA indicates that alanine will be added to the protein chain. The messenger RNA stop codon UAG indicates the termination of the synthesis of that protein.

Conclusion

DNA consists of 4 different bases and 1 codon is made up of three nucleotide bases. Hence, possible patterns for a codon will be 4x4x4 = 64 codons.Therefore, there are 64 possible codons patterns which will be coding for 20 different amino acids. There are 20 amino acids present which will be coded by 64 codons. Out of these 64 codons, 61 will code for different amino acids out of which, AUG is a start codon and three are the stop codon or the termination codon (UAA, UAG, UGA). The stop codons are unable to code.