Final answer:
Successive amino acid codons on an mRNA strand form the genetic code, which is used during translation to synthesize proteins. Each codon consists of a sequence of three nucleotides that specifies either an amino acid or a stop signal. The genetic code is degenerate, meaning that multiple codons can encode the same amino acid, which reduces the impact of mutations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Successive amino acid codons strung along an mRNA molecule are referred to as a genetic code. These codons are consecutive sequences of three nucleotides that correspond to a specific amino acid. During the process of translation, the mRNA template is read and the genetic information it contains is used to synthesize proteins. These proteins are made up of amino acids that are determined by triplet nucleotide units known as codons. Each codon specifies one of the 20 common amino acids or a stop signal for terminating protein synthesis. For instance, the codon AUG serves a dual role as it specifies the amino acid methionine and also acts as the start codon initiating translation. The sequence of codons in mRNA dictates the sequence of amino acids in a protein, creating a polypeptide chain as the translation machinery pairs each mRNA codon with the appropriate tRNA anticodon.
The genetic code features a degree of redundancy referred to as "degeneracy," where multiple codons can specify the same amino acid. This helps safeguard against the detrimental effects of random mutations as a single-nucleotide substitution might not result in a radical change to the protein structure. In summary, the genetic code is a crucial component of molecular biology that guides the synthesis of proteins from the nucleotide sequence of mRNA.