Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of the degeneracy of the genetic code?

  1. A given amino acid has more than one codon

  2. Each codon specifies more than one amino acid

  3. The first two bases specify the amino acid

  4. The genetic code is not degenerated

  5. None of these

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A Correct answer
Explanation

The degeneracy of the genetic code means that most amino acids are specified by more than one codon. For example, leucine has six different codons. This redundancy buffers against mutations.