The given question relates to the genetic code and its characteristics. Let's break down the context and understand each term before arriving at the correct answer.
The genetic code consists of 64 codons, each made up of three nucleotides. These codons translate into amino acids that build proteins. Of these 64 codons, 61 codons code for 20 amino acids, while the remaining three codons are stop codons which signal the termination of protein synthesis.
- Degeneracy of Genetic Code: This term describes the redundancy of the genetic code, where multiple codons can code for the same amino acid. For example, both GGU, GGC, GGA, and GGG all code for glycine. This property of having more codons (61) than amino acids (20) is termed degeneracy.
- Overlapping of Genes: This refers to a situation where a single nucleotide sequence encodes multiple proteins depending on the reading frame. This is not the standard coding paradigm and does not explain the use of 61 codons for 20 amino acids.
- Wobbling of Codon: This term describes the flexibility in pairing the third base of a codon with the corresponding base of an anticodon during translation, allowing some tRNAs to recognize more than one codon. Although related to the genetic code flexibility, it primarily explains how fewer tRNAs can accommodate those multiple codons, rather than explaining why there are 61 codons for 20 amino acids.
- Universality of Codons: This property indicates that the genetic code is nearly universal, with most organisms using the same codons to code for the same amino acids. However, this does not clarify why 61 codons code for only 20 amino acids.
Considering the options, "Degeneracy of genetic code" accurately explains why there are 61 codons coding for 20 amino acids. Therefore, the correct answer is:
Degeneracy of genetic code