A codon represents what in the context of genetics?

A codon is a specific sequence of three nitrogenous bases in messenger RNA (mRNA) that corresponds to a particular amino acid during the process of translation in protein synthesis. During this process, the sequence of codons in the mRNA is read by ribosomes, which then assemble the amino acids into a polypeptide chain, forming a protein. Each codon directly specifies which amino acid will be added next in the growing chain based on the genetic code. Therefore, identifying a codon as representing an amino acid highlights its crucial role in connecting the genetic information encoded in DNA with the actual synthesis of proteins, which are vital for numerous biological functions.