Every three bases (a triplet) specifies an amino acid to be included into a growing polypeptide chain. This is called the genetic code.
The genetic code consists of sixty-one triplets that specify the 20 kinds of amino acids and three that serve to stop protein synthesis.
Most amino acids can be specified by more than one codon. For example, six codons specify leucine (UUA, UUG, CUU, CUC, CUA, CUG).
Each base triplet in RNA is called a codon.
With few exceptions, the genetic code is universal for all forms of life.
This animation (No Audio) describes the genetic code.
REVIEW: There are how many different kinds of RNA codons?
REVIEW: The concept that a set of three nucleotides specifies a particular amino acid provides the
basis for
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