Which of the following statements about the wobble hypothesis is corre...
The correct answer is Option B - The third base of the codon can pair with multiple bases of the anticodon
According to the wobble hypothesis proposed by Francis Crick, flexible or non-standard pairing occurs at the third base of the codon (the 3' end of the codon) with the first base of the anticodon (the 5' end of the anticodon).
The first two positions of the codon pair by strict Watson-Crick base pairing, which enforces exact complementary geometry and prevents wobble at those positions.
This wobble at the third codon base explains the degeneracy of the genetic code, allowing fewer distinct tRNA species to recognise multiple codons that differ only in the third base.
For example, when inosine is present at the 5' position of an anticodon, it can pair with A, U or C, enabling a single tRNA to read several synonymous codons that vary at the third position.
Therefore, statements claiming wobble at the first or second codon bases, or claiming that all three bases wobble, are incorrect because only the third base of the codon exhibits this flexible pairing behaviour.