The standard genetic code specifies 61 sense codons, yet cells contain far fewer than 61 distinct tRNA species. The property of the third codon position that reconciles this disparity is known as:

• A Wobble pairing between the 5' anticodon base and the 3' codon base ✓
• B Degeneracy confined to the first codon position
• C Post-transcriptional editing of every anticodon loop
• D Frameshifting at the second codon position

Explanation

Crick's wobble hypothesis states that base pairing at the third codon position (read by the 5' base of the anticodon) is less stringent than Watson-Crick pairing, allowing one tRNA to recognise multiple synonymous codons. Degeneracy resides at the third codon position, not the first, and no universal editing step substitutes for wobble. Frameshifting is a translational error mechanism unrelated to normal decoding economy.

Reference: Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, 8th ed.

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