Question

Write the difference between codon and anticodon.

Answer 1

Hint: In genetic code, the set of a three-nucleotide in a row counts as a triplet that codes for a single amino acid. It was first discovered by Marshall Nirenberg and Heinrich J. Matthaei.

Complete answer:
The sequence of three nucleotides on an mRNA strand that encodes a specific amino acid is known as a codon. Out of all 64 codons only 61 codons that code for amino acids and 3 codons do not code for any amino acids, hence they are known as stop codons. The codon is unambiguous and specific means one codon can code for only one amino acid.

Difference between codon and anticodon:

Codon	Anticodon
Codons are trinucleotide units that present in mRNA and codes for a particular amino acid in protein synthesis.	Anticodon is trinucleotide units that present in tRNA. It is complementary to the codons in mRNA.
Codons transfer the genetic information from the nucleus to the ribosomes where protein synthesis takes place.	The anticodons are referred to as the link between the nucleotide sequence of the mRNA and the amino acid sequence of the protein.
The codons are present in DNA and RNA.	The anticodons are present in the anticodon arm of tRNA.
One mRNA comprises a no. of codons.	One tRNA contains the only anticodon.
The codon is complementary to the nucleotide triplet of a gene in DNA.	it is complementary to the respective codon.

Note:
> There are three amino acids that don’t encode amino acid and serve as signals for stopping protein synthesis. These codons are UGA, UAG, and UAA.
> The start codon is AUG that code for methionine and serves as a translational initiation.
> RNA polymerase synthesizes mRNA that contains all the correct information to make the protein.