Question

When we say that the genetic code is degenerate, we mean that __________?

1) There are multiple codons that can code for the same amino acid
2) There are multiple amino acids that can be coded by the same codon
3) There are multiple start codons
4) There are multiple stop codons

Answer 1

The genetic code is described as degenerate because there are several codons that can specify the same amino acid, providing a mechanism to lessen the effects of mutations.

Step-by-step explanation:

When we say that the genetic code is degenerate, we mean that there are multiple codons that can code for the same amino acid. This redundancy in the genetic code is referred to as degeneracy. Each of the 20 amino acids (except for methionine and tryptophan) is encoded by more than one codon. This is a cellular mechanism to reduce the negative impact of random mutations. The universality and redundancy of the genetic code are crucial for the accurate and efficient synthesis of proteins.