How many base pairs correspond to a single amino acid in the genetic code?

In the genetic code, each amino acid is specified by a sequence of three nitrogenous bases found in DNA or RNA. These sequences of three bases are known as codons. Each codon corresponds to one of the 20 different amino acids that make up proteins. This triplet nature of the code is vital for ensuring that the genetic information is accurately translated during the process of protein synthesis.

The three-base combination allows for a large number of unique codons (64 possible combinations of three bases, given that there are four different nucleotides: adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine in DNA) which not only includes codes for each amino acid but also has additional codons that serve as stop signals to terminate protein synthesis. This triplet code is fundamental to understanding how genes are expressed and how proteins are synthesized within cells.