Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides in messenger RNA that specifies an amino acid or a translation signal. Codons are read in order during protein synthesis.

Genetic code: The rules that map nucleotide sequences to amino acids and translation signals during protein synthesis. It assigns a meaning to each codon and explains why the code is called degenerate.
Messenger RNA: A ribonucleic acid molecule that carries protein-coding information from DNA to the translation machinery. Codons are defined as triplets in this RNA during translation.
Anticodon: A three-nucleotide sequence in transfer RNA that pairs with a complementary messenger RNA codon. It is the matching triplet on transfer RNA, not the triplet on messenger RNA.
Codon usage bias: The unequal use of synonymous codons in the genes of an organism or genome. It explains why genes can favor particular codons despite encoding the same protein.
Transfer RNA: An RNA molecule that carries an amino acid and pairs its anticodon with a messenger RNA codon. Its anticodon recognizes codons while delivering the corresponding amino acid.
Nucleotide: A molecular unit composed of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base; nucleotides form nucleic acids. Three nucleotides make up each codon.
DNA triplet: A sequence of three adjacent nucleotides in DNA. It is a DNA sequence; codon specifically describes the translated messenger RNA triplet.
Codon optimization: The redesign of a coding sequence to alter synonymous codon choices for a chosen expression system. It uses synonymous codons to influence production of a protein.
Ribosome: A molecular complex of RNA and proteins that synthesizes proteins by translating messenger RNA. It positions each codon for decoding and joins the delivered amino acids.
RNA base: One of the nitrogenous bases adenine, cytosine, guanine, or uracil found in RNA. Their ordered identities distinguish one codon from another.

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