Instead of being used for something, the codon was freed up to be redefined. The researchers did similar experiments with the codons for the amino acid serine.

Code-breaking codon. Published 3 March 2010. ... Therefore the code is not universal, although it can be called widespread as, for example, the codon TCT codes for serine in any organism.

Article #20-14567: "Evolution of the genetic code; Evidence from serine codon use disparity in Escherichia coli," by Masayori Inouye, Risa Takino, Yojiro Ishida and Keiko Inouye.

In humans and most other living things, the codon CTG translates to the amino acid leucine. But in this yeast family, some members use the sequence to create serine, while others make alanine out ...

The other known alternate sense codon use among yeast was first identified in Candida albicans two decades ago. This too involves a CUG codon, but results in serine in the translated protein. “For ...

This is odd enough in itself. But the team was even more surprised to find one species, Ascoidea asiatica, randomly translated this codon as serine or leucine.Every time this codon is translated ...

For instance, the codon TCG tells its matching tRNA to attach the amino acid serine. In this case, the Cambridge team had deleted TCG along with sister codon TCA, which also calls for serine.

But the team was even more surprised to find one species, Ascoidea asiatica, randomly translated this codon as serine or leucine. Every time this codon is translated the cell tosses a chemical ...