codon

noun co·don \ ˈkō-ˌdän \

|Updated on: 3 Jul 2018

Definition of codon

: 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

Recent Examples of codon from the Web

Because viruses’ genes include the redundant codons.

— sharon begley, STAT, "Genome ‘writers’ set their first goal: recoding human cells to resist viruses," 1 May 2018
And life can get by with only one codon for each amino acid.

— sharon begley, STAT, "Genome ‘writers’ set their first goal: recoding human cells to resist viruses," 1 May 2018
Church’s team used synthesis in follow-up work to recode seven codons in the E. coli genome.

— elie dolgin, Scientific American, "Scientists Downsize Bold Plan to Make Human Genome from Scratch," 1 May 2018
Hysolli explains that, rather than synthesize every nucleotide in my Y chromosome, Church’s team will focus on discrete genetic units, called codons, that determine what kind of amino acids (and, eventually, proteins) are produced by a cell.

— david ewing duncan, WIRED, "The Next Best Version of Me: How to Live Forever," 27 Mar. 2018
The next step was to place both the phosphotyrosine and the analog at specific sites in recombinant proteins, by swapping out a codon.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Scripps, Salk scientists independently make key biological advance," 12 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'codon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.