stop codon

noun

Genetics.

1. a codon that stops the synthesis of a protein molecule.

stop codon

1. Any of three codons in a molecule of messenger RNA that do not code for an amino acid and thereby signal the termination of the synthesis of a protein. The three stop codons are UAA, UAG, and UGA, where U is uracil, A is adenine, and G is guanine.

2. Also called termination codon