UNASSIGNED CODONS Meaning and
Definition
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Unassigned codons refer to the three-letter nucleotide sequences in the genetic code that do not code for any specific amino acids. Codons are the fundamental units of genetic information, consisting of three consecutive nucleotides (adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine) on a DNA or RNA molecule. These codons are read by ribosomes during protein synthesis to determine the order in which amino acids are assembled to form proteins.
In the genetic code, there are a total of 64 different codons. Among these 64 codons, 61 code for specific amino acids, which are known as sense codons. These sense codons instruct the ribosomes to incorporate specific amino acids into the growing protein chain. However, the remaining three codons, known as stop codons or termination codons (UAA, UAG, and UGA), serve as signals to the ribosomes to stop the protein synthesis process.
Unassigned codons, also called non-sense codons or non-coding codons, do not have assigned amino acids. They do not code for any specific protein and do not play a direct role in protein synthesis. While unassigned codons were initially considered to be "silent" or non-functional, recent research has indicated that some of these codons may have regulatory functions influencing gene expression, mRNA stability, or translation efficiency. However, the exact mechanism and significance of these unassigned codons in cellular processes are still under investigation.
Common Misspellings for UNASSIGNED CODONS
- ynassigned codons
- hnassigned codons
- jnassigned codons
- inassigned codons
- 8nassigned codons
- 7nassigned codons
- ubassigned codons
- umassigned codons
- ujassigned codons
- uhassigned codons
- unzssigned codons
- unsssigned codons
- unwssigned codons
- unqssigned codons
- unaasigned codons
- unazsigned codons
- unaxsigned codons
- unadsigned codons
- unaesigned codons
- unawsigned codons
Etymology of UNASSIGNED CODONS
The etymology of the term "Unassigned Codons" can be broken down as follows:
1. Unassigned: The word "unassigned" is derived from the prefix "un-" which means "not" or "lack of" and the verb "assign" which means to allocate or designate. Therefore, "unassigned" refers to something that has not been allocated or designated.
2. Codons: The word "codon" is a scientific term used in genetics and molecular biology. It refers to a specific sequence of three nucleotides (adenine [A], cytosine [C], guanine [G], or thymine [T]) in messenger RNA (mRNA) that corresponds to a specific amino acid or termination signal during protein synthesis. Codons are essentially the building blocks of genetic instructions.
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