📚 StudyHub

🔬 Biology  ·  Molecular Basis of Inheritance  ·  NEET

The genetic code is described as degenerate because:

  • A Some codons fail to correspond to any specific amino acid residue
  • B Most amino acids are specified by more than one codon
  • C The genetic code differs noticeably between different organism lineages
  • D Codons physically overlap with each other along the mRNA strand

Correct answer: B. Most amino acids are specified by more than one codon

Explanation: Degeneracy means that most of the 20 amino acids are coded by more than one codon, for example leucine and serine each have 6 codons.

Concept context

DNA structure, replication, transcription, translation, the genetic code, and gene regulation (lac operon). The single most important chapter for NEET molecular biology.

Read the full Molecular Basis of Inheritance notes →