The multiple codons specifying one amino acid are grouped together, hence codons are

Options

A. Degenerate
B. Ordered
C. Unambiguous
D. Punctuationless

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Codons**: Codons are sequences of three nucleotides in mRNA that specify a particular amino acid. Each codon corresponds to one amino acid or a stop signal during protein synthesis.

2. **Multiple Codons for One Amino Acid**: It is important to note that some amino acids can be encoded by more than one codon. This means that there are multiple codons that can specify the same amino acid.

3. **Degeneracy of the Genetic Code**: The phenomenon where multiple codons correspond to a single amino acid is referred to as "degeneracy" of the genetic code. This means that the genetic code is not a one-to-one mapping; instead, it allows for redundancy.

4. **Examples of Degeneracy**: For instance, the amino acid serine can be encoded by six different codons, while leucine, arginine, and others can also be encoded by multiple codons. Other amino acids like threonine, valine, glycine, alanine are each coded by four different codons.

5. **Conclusion**: Therefore, since multiple codons can specify one amino acid, we conclude that codons are described as "degenerate". This is a key feature of the genetic code.

**Final Answer**: Codons are said to be "degenerate".

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