Prepare for the Clinical Genetics Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Achieve success on your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which of the following describes stop codons?

Stop codons mark the end of protein synthesis. The three stop codons—UAA, UAG, UGA—do not code for any amino acid. Instead, when one of these triplets sits in the ribosome, release factors bind and trigger release of the new polypeptide, terminating translation and allowing the ribosome to dissociate from the mRNA. This distinguishes translation termination from initiation (start codon AUG starts translation) and from transcription (the process of making RNA), which use different signals altogether.

Stop codons mark the end of protein synthesis. The three stop codons—UAA, UAG, UGA—do not code for any amino acid. Instead, when one of these triplets sits in the ribosome, release factors bind and trigger release of the new polypeptide, terminating translation and allowing the ribosome to dissociate from the mRNA. This distinguishes translation termination from initiation (start codon AUG starts translation) and from transcription (the process of making RNA), which use different signals altogether.