Class 12 · Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Degeneracy of Genetic Code — NEET Biology

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Some amino acids are coded by more than one codon, hence the code is degenerate.

NCERT Biology · Class 12 · Chapter 5 · Paragraph 94
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Which of the following statements about the salient features of the genetic code are NOT correct? S1. The genetic code is a doublet code, where two nucleotides form a codon, coding for twenty amino acids. S2. Degeneracy of the genetic code implies that one amino acid can be specified by multiple codons, with the third base of the codon often being less specific. S3. The genetic code is universally applicable from bacteria to humans, coding for the same amino acids, without any exceptions. S4. The codon is read in mRNA in a non-overlapping and contiguous manner, ensuring that each nucleotide is part of only one codon and there are no gaps. S5. AUG always functions as an initiator codon and solely codes for Methionine, never for any other amino acid. S6. UAA, UAG, and UGA are referred to as nonsense codons because they do not code for any specific amino acids, leading to termination of translation.

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