Question

Which three scientists are credited with ultimately deciphering all 64 codons of the genetic code dictionary?

Options

• Crick, Khorana, and Nirenberg

• Nirenberg, Matthaei, and Ochoa

• Gamow, Khorana, and Ochoa

• Nirenberg, Khorana, and Crick

Answer 1

Marshall Nirenberg, Matthaei, and Severo Ochoa together deciphered all 64 codons of the genetic code dictionary through their combined experimental work. Nirenberg and Matthaei's work with poly-U mRNA initiated the process, while Khorana's methods of synthesizing defined sequences and Ochoa's discovery of polynucleotide phosphorylase provided additional tools for determining the remaining codons.