๐Ÿงฌap biology review

Start Codon

Written by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2027 exam
Verified for the 2027 examโ€ขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated August 2025

Definition

The start codon is a specific sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that signals the start of translation and codes for methionine in eukaryotes or formylmethionine in prokaryotes.

AP course connection

Topic 6.4: 6.4 Translation

Unit 6
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