Final answer:
Codons are nucleotide triplets in mRNA that determine the sequence of amino acids in a growing peptide during translation. The genetic code is degenerate, with multiple codons coding for the same amino acid. The genetic code is universal across all species.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of this question is Biology. Codons are nucleotide triplets found in mRNA that determine the sequence of amino acids in a growing peptide during translation. Each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid, and this relationship is known as the genetic code. The genetic code is degenerate, meaning that multiple codons can code for the same amino acid.
For example, the codon AUG codes for the amino acid methionine and also serves as a start codon for protein synthesis. There are three stop codons that signal the end of protein synthesis. The genetic code is universal, meaning that it is the same across all species on Earth.