Final answer:
A transition within a wobble position would affect fewer messages than if transitions occurred in the first or second positions of codons due to the degeneracy of the genetic code. The wobble hypothesis explains this phenomenon, indicating that the third position in a codon has a buffering effect against base substitutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a transition occurs within a wobble position, it refers to the third position of a codon in the genetic code. The wobble hypothesis by Crick explains that this third position is less specific, allowing for certain base substitutions that do not lead to a change in the amino acid specified by the codon. To answer the question directly, a transition at the wobble position would not necessarily change the amino acid being coded for. Therefore, based on the degeneracy of the genetic code, a transition in the wobble position causes fewer messages to change than if transitions occurred in the first or second positions of codons.
The genetic code is built upon 64 codons that specify 20 amino acids and one punctuation mark, which is crucial for the synthesis of proteins. Due to this redundancy in the genetic code, known as degeneracy, the impact of mutations in the wobble position is buffered. The question suggests that there are 21 messages (presumably meaning the 20 amino acids and one stop signal), and hints that a transition at the wobble position could alter some messages. However, it's essential to clarify that because of the protective effect of wobble, often the same amino acid will be incorporated despite the transition, therefore fewer than 21 messages would be affected.