stop codon

noun

a sequence of three RNA nucleotides (A, C, G or U) that instruct the synthesis, or translation, of a protein to stop. The three-letter stop codon sequences have been given names: "UAG" is amber, "UGA" is opal, and "UAA" is ochre.

Similar
termination codon
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Meanings

nounstop codon (plural stop codon)
  1. biochemistrya sequence of three RNA nucleotides (A, C, G or U) that instruct the synthesis, or translation, of a protein to stop. The three-letter stop codon sequences have been given names: "UAG" is amber, "UGA" is opal, and "UAA" is ochre.

    Synonyms: termination codon

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna sequence of three RNA nucleotides (A, C, G or U) that instruct the synthesis, or translation, of a protein to stop. The three-letter stop codon sequences have been given names: "UAG" is amber, "UGA" is opal, and "UAA" is ochre.

Similar
termination codon
Also see
termination codon

Translations

Finnish lopetuskodoni
  • lopetuskodonicodon that instructs protein synthesis to stop
Japanese 終止コドン
  • 終止コドン (shūshi-kodon)codon that instructs protein synthesis to stop
Polish kodon terminacyjny
  • kodon terminacyjnycodon that instructs protein synthesis to stop
Swedish stoppkodon
  • stoppkodoncodon that instructs protein synthesis to stop
Cite this entry
APA

stop codon. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stop%20codon

MLA

“stop codon.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stop%20codon. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “stop codon,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stop%20codon.

Source: stop codon on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.