Degeneracy of a genetic code is attributed to the:
- Second member of a codon
- Third member of a codon
- First member of a codon
- Entire codon
Answer
(2) Third member of a codon
Solution
As per NCERT, the code is degenerate: some amino acids are coded by more than one codon.
⇒ Such synonymous codons usually differ only in the third base (e.g. UCU, UCC, UCA, UCG all code for serine); the third base pairs loosely with the anticodon (wobble).
∴ Degeneracy is attributed to the third member of a codon.
Answer: (2)