The RNA base sequence serves in turn as a code for the selection of amino acids (about twenty amino acids are used in human protein production, each possessing a unique chemical structure) which, when combined into a long strand, form proteins. The bases on the RNA chains don’t code for these amino acids on a one-to-one basis, however. Instead, triplet sets of bases are used, each specifying one or more amino acids. With four bases, it is possible to create sixty-four different triplet combinations or codons (some amino acids can be specified by more than one triplet codon).
