Codon Reading: Contiguous & No Punctuation — NEET Biology
✅ Asked in NEET 2024Which of the following is not a characteristic feature of the genetic code?
Which of the following is not a characteristic feature of the genetic code?
Answer & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: C — The code has punctuations
The genetic code does NOT have punctuations - it is comma-less and continuous. This means there are no gaps or punctuation marks between codons; they are read continuously in triplets. The other features are correct: codons are triplets (3 bases), the code is nearly universal across species, and it is degenerate (multiple codons can code for the same amino acid). The absence of punctuation is a key characteristic that allows continuous reading of the genetic message.
Read more NCERT concept on the PYQ
The codon is read in mRNA in a contiguous fashion. There are no punctuations.
The genetic code is read continuously on mRNA without any gaps, spaces, or punctuation marks between codons. This means ribosomes read codons sequentially (AUG-UUC-GUA...) without pausing between them. Students often mistakenly think there are separators or overlapping regions between codons, leading to incorrect interpretation of protein synthesis. NTA tests this by asking how codons are identified or what happens if the reading frame shifts. Remember: codons are adjacent three-nucleotide units with no interruptions—this is why a single nucleotide insertion or deletion causes a frameshift mutation affecting the entire downstream sequence.
What does NCERT say about codon read mRNA contiguous?
Has this concept appeared in NEET?
Which chapter is this from?
Through deep analysis of NEET and NTA, 176 of the 180 ReNEET 2026 (June 21) questions were already in the MedicNEET question bank before the exam.
176/180MedicNEET's Biology question bank is built from the same NCERT lines NTA picks repeatedly. Not random MCQs — questions crafted exactly like NTA crafts them.
You just learned this concept. The free app turns it into a daily goal built from your weak topics and brings it back just before you forget it — using active recall and spaced repetition — so it stays till exam day.