Which statement correctly describes a DNA triplet?

Which statement correctly describes a DNA triplet?

• A. It is a group of three bases in DNA that codes for an amino acid
• B. It is a group of two bases
• C. It codes for nucleotides
• D. It occurs only in bacteria

Answer: (A)

A DNA triplet is a sequence of three nucleotide bases that encodes one amino acid during protein synthesis. This three-base set acts as a code word: in transcription these bases are copied into a three-base mRNA codon, which during translation specifies a particular amino acid to be added to the growing protein. The key idea is that the length is three and the role is to specify amino acids, not nucleotides themselves. Three bases long prevents confusion with dinucleotides (two bases). Triplets don’t code for nucleotides; they code for amino acids via the genetic code. And this mechanism isn’t limited to bacteria; the triplet–codon system is universal across life.

A DNA triplet is a sequence of three nucleotide bases that encodes one amino acid during protein synthesis. This three-base set acts as a code word: in transcription these bases are copied into a three-base mRNA codon, which during translation specifies a particular amino acid to be added to the growing protein. The key idea is that the length is three and the role is to specify amino acids, not nucleotides themselves.

Three bases long prevents confusion with dinucleotides (two bases). Triplets don’t code for nucleotides; they code for amino acids via the genetic code. And this mechanism isn’t limited to bacteria; the triplet–codon system is universal across life.