What is meant by the degeneracy of codons

Options

A. One amino acid is coded by one code
B. One amino acid can be coded by more than one code
C. One code controls one code
D. One code can control more than one amino acid

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Codons**:
- Codons are sequences of three nucleotides in mRNA that correspond to specific amino acids during protein synthesis. For example, the codon "AAA" codes for the amino acid lysine.

2. **Definition of Degeneracy**:
- The term "degeneracy" in the context of codons refers to the phenomenon where multiple codons can code for the same amino acid. This means that while each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid, a single amino acid can be represented by more than one codon.

3. **Example of Degeneracy**:
- For instance, the amino acid leucine can be coded by six different codons: UUA, UUG, CUU, CUC, CUA, and CUG. This illustrates that multiple codons can lead to the same amino acid.

4. **Importance of Degeneracy**:
- The degeneracy of the genetic code provides a buffer against mutations. If a mutation occurs in one nucleotide of a codon, it may still code for the same amino acid due to the presence of multiple codons for that amino acid, thus minimizing the potential impact on protein function.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the degeneracy of codons means that one amino acid can be encoded by more than one codon, making the genetic code redundant in certain aspects.

### Final Answer:
The degeneracy of codons refers to the phenomenon where a single amino acid can be coded by more than one codon.

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