Final answer:
A codon is a consecutive sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that corresponds to a specific amino acid, pairing with a tRNA anticodon during protein synthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three-base sequence in mRNA that binds to a tRNA molecule is called a codon. This consecutive sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA corresponds to a specific amino acid in the synthesis of a polypeptide chain during the process of translation. Each tRNA molecule has a specific three-nucleotide anticodon sequence that pairs with its complementary mRNA codon, dictating the insertion of a corresponding amino acid into the polypeptide chain. For example, if the mRNA template has a codon sequence CUA, it would pair with a tRNA that has the anticodon sequence GAU, which carries the amino acid leucine.