Which of the following observations may have resulted in the hypothesis that a codon is made up of three bases?
A) A codon of two bases in length, from four different bases, would code for a maximum of thirty-two different amino acids.
B) A codon of three bases in length, from four different bases, would code for a maximum of twelve different amino acids.
C) A codon of four bases in length, from four different bases, would code for a maximum of twenty-four different amino acids.
D) A codon of three bases in length, from four different bases, would code for a maximum of sixty-four different amino acids.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The observation that a codon of three bases in length, from four different bases, would code for a maximum of sixty-four different amino acids, suggests that a codon is made up of three bases. This is because there are only four different bases (A, C, G, U) used to code for twenty different amino acids, therefore, a minimum of three bases are required to code for each amino acid.

Which of the Following Observations May Have Resulted in the Hypothesis