Final answer:
The term describing the uninterrupted, punctuation-free reading of mRNA bases from a fixed starting point is colinear. Genetic translation involves reading consecutive codons from the start codon to the stop codon without additional nucleotides serving as separators.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word that refers to the fact that every base in a sequence of mRNA is read from a fixed starting point, without skipping any bases or punctuation, is colinear. The mRNA sequence is translated into a protein by reading consecutive codons, which are sets of three nucleotides that specify an amino acid. The translation begins at a specific start codon, usually AUG, and continues with consecutive non-overlapping codons until a stop codon is reached, reflecting the contiguous and uninterrupted nature of genetic translation.
The concept of colinearity supports that the sequence of nucleotides in the mRNA dictates the sequence of amino acids in a protein in a direct and consecutive manner. There is no extra 'punctuation' or additional nucleotides serving as separators between the codons. If a mutation occurs, such as an insertion or deletion, it can shift the reading frame, causing a frameshift mutation, which often results in a nonfunctional protein.