How many bases are in a codon?

There are three bases in a codon. A codon is part of an RNA sequence that translates into an individual amino acid at ribosomes. These amino acids come together to form proteins.

Each protein sequence has a start codon and a stop codon. RNA sequences use the base uracil instead of thymine, as the bases are copied from the DNA sequence.

The process of cellular protein formation is central to understanding how many antibacterial drugs work. Many drugs, such as the tetracycline class, work by interfering with the translation of RNA into amino acids. This disrupts the development of proteins, resulting in a reduced rate of reproduction in bacteria.