Answer:
The codon chart is a reference tool that correlates specific codons with the corresponding amino acids they encode. It helps to decipher the genetic code and understand which amino acids are synthesized based on the sequence of nucleotides. The genetic code is often summarized in a table, which shows the full set of relationships between codons and amino acids (or stop signals). Each three-letter sequence of mRNA nucleotides corresponds to a specific amino acid, or to a stop codon. Most codons specify an amino acid, while three “stop” codons mark the end of a protein and one “start” codon, AUG, marks the beginning of a protein and also encodes the amino acid methionine. Codons in an mRNA are read during translation, beginning with a start codon and continuing until a stop codon is reached. mRNA codons are read from 5’ to 3’, and they specify the order of amino acids in a protein from N-terminus (methionine) to C-terminus. The genetic code is universal, meaning that virtually all species use the same genetic code for protein synthesis.