Explanation
In genetic code table, each box is specified by the first and second positions (for example the AAX box, in which X is any of the four bases) therefore eight of the sixteen boxes contain just one amino acid per box. This means codon need only be read in the first two positions for these eight amino acids because the same amino acid will be represented regardless of the third base of the codon. That’s why multiple codons specify single amino acid and make the genetic code degenerate. According to the question, an amino acid that was encoded by three codons is now encoded by two codons. This means that degeneracy for that codon has been decreased. If the degeneracy was increased, a number of codons specifying the amino acid would have increased which makes option A wrong. If the degeneracy was same, the number of codons for the amino acid would remain same; this makes option C wrong. The correct answer is B.
Genetic code shows degeneracy which means that multiple codons specify particular amino acid. Amino acid leucine is encoded by 6 codons; UUA, UUG, CUU, CUC, CUA and CUG, thus it shows degeneracy but is not encoded by codons given in the question which makes option A wrong. Methionine is the exception to code degeneracy as it is encoded by single codon “AUG” which makes option B wrong. Glycine is encoded by GGU, GGC, GGA and GGG; thus shows code degeneracy but is not specified by codons mentioned in question which makes option C incorrect. Threonine is encoded by multiple codons ACU, ACC, ACA and ACG; option D is the correct answer.
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