codon

[koh-don] /ˈkoʊ dɒn/

noun, Genetics.

a triplet of adjacent nucleotides in the messenger RNA chain that codes for a specific amino acid in the synthesis of a protein molecule.

Also called coding triplet.

Compare anticodon.

Origin

1960-65, Americanism; code + -on¹

Examples from the web for codon

But, with more codons than amino acids, many amino acids have more than one codon to describe them.
Some amino-acids are coded by a single triplet code, or codon.
Three such nucleotides-a group known as a codon-tell a cell which amino acids it should use while building a protein.
Tool to make nucleotide alignment to codon alignment.

British Dictionary definitions for codon

codon

/ˈkəʊdɒn/

noun

(genetics, biochem) a unit that consists of three adjacent bases on a DNA molecule and that determines the position of a specific amino acid in a protein molecule during protein synthesis

Word Origin

C20: from code + -on

Word Origin and History for codon

1962, from code (n.) + -on.

codon in Medicine

codon co·don (kō'dŏn')
n.
A sequence of three adjacent nucleotides constituting the genetic code that specifies the insertion of an amino acid in a specific structural position in a polypeptide chain during the synthesis of proteins.

codon in Science

codon

(kō'dŏn')
A sequence of three adjacent nucleotides on a strand of a nucleic acid (such as DNA) that constitutes the genetic code for a specific amino acid that is to be added to a polypeptide chain during protein synthesis. Some amino acids are coded for by more than one codon, and some codons do not signal a particular amino acid but rather signal a stop to protein synthesis.

codon in Culture

codon [(koh-don)]

A group of three bases on the DNA molecule. Each codon determines the identity of one amino acid in proteins made by the cell.