Question

Degeneration of a genetic code is attributed to the
A) First member of a codon
B) Second member of a codon
C) Entire codon
D) Third member of a codon

Answer 1

Hint: The genetic codons appear in triplet form. One amino acid can be translated from one or more codons. These codons are known as degenerative. The changes in the codons during translation can result in various types of amino acids.

Complete answer:
The sequence of nucleotides, in ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid is called as genetic code. It determines the amino acid sequence of proteins. The genetic codon of all species is invariant throughout the extent. It is referred to as universal genetic code.
The properties of the genetic codons include that it dictates the linear sequence of nucleotides, the translation of mRNA, relationship between nucleotide sequence of mRNA and the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide. Genetic codons are found in triplets. The degeneracy of genetic codes is a very important characteristic of the genetic codons. This means that the same amino acid is coded by more than one base triplet.
It describes that one amino acid sequence can be directed to its place in the amino acid sequence by more than one base triplet. The specificity of the protein synthesis cannot be determined. For ex- arginine, alanine, and leucine have six same codons. Degeneracy of the codons can be observed of two types: partial and complete. When the translation occurs in the tRNA molecule one codon can code for more than amino acid molecules. The tRNA can recognize more than one codon, deferring only at the third position. For ex- GCU, GCC and GCA all codes for alanine.
There are the chances that due to improper pairing of the third codon with the anticodon of tRNA.
From the above information we have found that Degeneration of a genetic code is attributed to the third member of the codon.

Therefore, the correct answer is option D).

Note:
The total genetic codons are 64, Out of which 44 codons are useless or nonsense codons. The genetic codon is used to study the origin and the evolution of the genetic code and the connection between certain mitochondria diseases with mitochondrial code deviations and translational errors. The codons CUU and CUC codon codes for leucine due to partial degeneracy. The complete degeneracy observed in codons such as UCU, UCC, UCG and UCA all code for serine. Degeneracy of the codons may occur in any of their three positions.