Final answer:
A mutation in the third nucleotide position of a codon, known as the 'wobble' position, is less likely to disrupt protein synthesis due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, allowing for silent or neutral mutations with minimal impact.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the structure of a codon, mutations are less likely to disrupt protein synthesis if they occur in the third nucleotide position. This is due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, which allows for certain mutations, such as silent or neutral mutations, to result in no change or a minor change in the protein. This is because the first two bases of each codon are most significant, while the third base is less critical and is referred to as the 'wobble' base.
A mutation in the wobble position often still permits the correct amino acid to be incorporated into the protein, due to the existence of multiple codons that code for the same amino acid, with differences typically only in the third nucleotide. Furthermore, the genetic code is organized so that amino acids with similar properties are often encoded by similar codons, reducing the chance that a mutation will have a severe effect on the protein's function.