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Multiple Choice
Where does the greatest variability among codons specifying the same amino acid occur?
A
All positions equally
B
Third position of the codon
C
Second position of the codon
D
First position of the codon
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that a codon is a sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that specifies an amino acid.
Recognize that there are 64 possible codons but only 20 amino acids, leading to redundancy in the genetic code.
Identify that this redundancy means multiple codons can code for the same amino acid, known as synonymous codons.
Note that the greatest variability among synonymous codons typically occurs at the third nucleotide position, often referred to as the 'wobble position'.
Conclude that the third position of the codon is where the greatest variability occurs, allowing for flexibility in the genetic code without altering the amino acid sequence.