Question

Which one of the following statements most appropriately describes the concept of 'Codon Bias'?

• A. Some codons for a particular amino acid are used more frequently.
• B. There has been an element of human bias for assigning specific codons to an amino acid.
• C. There is no codon bias in plants.
• D. The usage of codons varies for different proteins in an organism.

Hint:

Codon bias impacts gene expression efficiency; choosing optimal codons can enhance protein yield in biotechnology applications.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understand the genetic code 
The genetic code is degenerate, meaning multiple codons can code for the same amino acid. However, not all synonymous codons are used equally.
Step 2: Define codon bias 
Codon bias refers to the non-random usage of synonymous codons in coding sequences. For a particular amino acid, certain codons are preferred over others in the genome of an organism. 
Step 3: Biological relevance 
Codon bias is linked to translational efficiency, accuracy, and the availability of corresponding tRNAs. Highly expressed genes often use codons that match abundant tRNAs, improving protein synthesis. 
Step 4: Evaluate the options 
Option (1) accurately describes the phenomenon. 
Option (2) is incorrect — codon choice is evolutionary, not human. 
Option (3) is false — plants do exhibit codon bias. 
Option (4) is misleading — codon usage varies across species or expression levels, not per protein.