codon

noun

co·​don ˈkō-ˌdän How to pronounce codon (audio)
: a specific sequence of three consecutive nucleotides that is part of the genetic code and that specifies a particular amino acid in a protein or starts or stops protein synthesis

called also triplet

Examples of codon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The amino acid glycine is encoded by four different codons (GGU, GGC, GGA, and GGG), the amino acid leucine is encoded by six different codons, and so forth. IEEE Spectrum, 14 Oct. 2021 And guess what this codon can do? Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2022 Each codon provides instructions for creating a specific amino acid. Jonathon Keats, Discover Magazine, 11 June 2017 Notice that the change is fixed upon the third position in the codon. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 11 July 2013 Every three consecutive nucleotides in this chain can constitute what’s called a codon. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2022 One way that viruses adapt is by encoding proteins using the same choice of codons as their host. David Cyranoski, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2020 One way is using genetic data to look at codons—triplets of DNA or RNA letters that are the instructions for making proteins. Megan Molteni, Wired, 23 Jan. 2020 Wei’s team compared the codons favoured by 2019-nCoV with those preferred by potential hosts including hedgehogs, pangolins, bats, chickens, humans and snakes. David Cyranoski, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'codon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of codon was in 1962

Dictionary Entries Near codon

Cite this Entry

“Codon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/codon. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

codon

noun
co·​don ˈkō-ˌdän How to pronounce codon (audio)
: a specific sequence of three consecutive nucleotides that is part of the genetic code and that specifies a particular amino acid in a protein or starts or stops protein synthesis

called also triplet

More from Merriam-Webster on codon

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