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Which of the following best explains why far fewer than 61 distinct tRNAs are sufficient to translate all sense codons?

  • A Many of the sixty-one possible sense codons are rarely actually used within real protein-coding genes under usual circumstances
  • B The wobble hypothesis allows flexible pairing at the third codon position, letting one tRNA read multiple synonymous codons
  • C Ribosomes are understood to be able to read certain codons directly without requiring any matching tRNA molecule according to most researchers
  • D Stop codons are understood to be read and recognized by special dedicated tRNA molecules that get reused repeatedly in the majority of cases studied

Correct answer: B. The wobble hypothesis allows flexible pairing at the third codon position, letting one tRNA read multiple synonymous codons

Explanation: Because of wobble pairing, a single tRNA species can recognise more than one codon differing only at the third (wobble) position, reducing the total number of tRNAs needed.

Concept context

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

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