Synonymous

Synonymous refers to the property of different codons of DNA or RNA sequence that specify the same amino acid. The genetic code is described as degenerate, or redundant, because a single amino acid may be coded for by more than one codon. This phenomenon is known as synonymy.

Overview

In the context of genetics, synonymous mutations are changes in the DNA sequence that do not alter the amino acid sequence of the protein product. These mutations occur within the exon regions of genes and are often considered silent because they do not directly influence the function of the protein. However, recent research has suggested that synonymous mutations can have subtle effects on protein structure and function, as well as gene expression.

Synonymous vs Non-Synonymous

Synonymous mutations are contrasted with non-synonymous mutations, which do alter the amino acid sequence of the protein product. Non-synonymous mutations can have a range of effects on the organism, from benign to harmful, depending on the nature of the change and the role of the protein in the organism's biology.

Implications

While synonymous mutations are often considered silent, they can have subtle effects on protein structure and function. For example, they can influence the speed and accuracy of protein synthesis, as well as the folding and stability of the protein product. They can also affect gene expression by altering mRNA stability or the efficiency of translation.

See Also

• Codon
• Genetic code
• Mutation
• Non-synonymous substitution

Synonymous Resources
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