Why codon is triplet?

Answer 1

I found this on Yahoo answers... "you have four bases, A, U, G, C if each codon consists of one nucleotide, you'd have only four amino acids possible, one for each letter. If each codon consists of 2 bases, you'd have only 16 possible amino acids (4^2), which is still less than the 20 AA you can have in a protein. With 3 nucleotides/codon, you'd have 64 (4^3) possible amino acids per codon. That's more than necessary, so some combinations are repeating, but this much is necessary to code the 20 amino acids. Some combinations will make the same amino acids, so that's why the code is said to be degerate (extra info). This allows for some point mutations to occur and not mess up the gene product. "
1 of 3 identical babies born at the same time, 1 up from twins, twins triplets quadruplets etc.

Answer 2

A 2 base pair code gives fewer combinations than there are amino acids. There are 4 different nucleotides in DNA. If a 2 base pair code were used that would only give 4 ^ 2 = 16 combinations. This fewer than the 20 different amino acids used in proteins. A 3 base pair gives 4 ^ 3 = 64 combinations.

Answer 3

first off, one would not be enough, because as there are only four nucleotide bases (A, U, G, and C) in RNA, and there would not be enough combinations for each of the twenty amino acids to be coded for (there would be only four combinations).

if it were a group of two, then there would be only twelve combinations, still not enough to code for all twenty necessary amino acids.

however with a group of three bases, there are enough unique combinations (more than enough actually) for each amino acid to be coded for. some amino acids may be coded for by multiple codons (a codon is one of the groups of three) since there are more than enough codon combinations.

Answer 4

Codons are triplet sequences of nucleotides in messenger RNA that code for a specific amino acid during protein synthesis. Each codon consists of three nucleotides because there are 64 possible combinations of the four nucleotides (A, C, G, and U) but only 20 different amino acids that need to be encoded.

Answer 5

because codons and anit codons connect like puzzles. They are opposite to each other so they attract.

Answer 6

This configuration is completely determined by The Genetic Code. Short Answer - another ?'n?

Answer 7

Because every 3 bases codes for an amino acid.

Answer 8

because

Answer 9

yes it is!