A codon is a three base nucleotide sequence along a strand of messenger RNA (mRNA) that, when interpreted during protein syntheis, directs the insertion of a specific amino acid into the protein chain. Codons may also direct the termination of protein synthesis.

Information for the genetic code is stored in a sequence of three nucleotide bases of DNA called base triplets, which act as a template for which messenger RNA (mRNA) is transcribed. A sequence of three successive nucleotide bases in the transcript mRNA is called a codon. Codons are complimentary to base triplets in the DNA. For example, if the base triplet in the DNA sequence is GCT, the corresponding codon on the mRNA strand will be CGA.

During the process of translation, the codon is able to code for an amino acid that is incorporated into a polypeptide chain. For example, the codon GCA, designates the...