Does the tool accept DNA or RNA input?

Both. You can type thymine (T) as in DNA or uracil (U) as in RNA — the tool normalizes them automatically before lookup.

What is the start codon?

ATG (DNA) or AUG (RNA) encodes Methionine (Met, M) and also serves as the universal start codon in most organisms.

How many stop codons are there?

There are three stop (termination) codons in the standard genetic code: UAA (Ochre), UAG (Amber), and UGA (Opal). They signal the end of translation and do not encode an amino acid.

Why are there 64 codons for only 20 amino acids?

The genetic code is degenerate — multiple codons can encode the same amino acid. For example, leucine is encoded by six different codons. This redundancy provides a buffer against certain point mutations.

Does this use the standard genetic code?

Yes. The tool uses the NCBI standard genetic code (translation table 1), which applies to most nuclear genes in eukaryotes and many prokaryotes. Mitochondrial and some alternative codes differ.

Codon Table Lookup

Name: Codon Table Lookup
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Enter any 3-letter DNA or RNA codon and instantly see the encoded amino acid, its abbreviations, and properties.

Enter a Codon

Accepts 3 nucleotides in DNA (A T G C) or RNA (A U G C) notation.

Standard Genetic Code — All 64 Codons

Codon	Amino Acid	3-Letter	1-Letter

Summary

Enter any 3-letter DNA or RNA codon and instantly see the encoded amino acid, its abbreviations, and properties.

How it works

Type or paste a 3-letter codon (e.g., ATG or AUG) in the input box.
The tool automatically normalizes DNA T to RNA U for lookup.
The matching amino acid (or Stop signal) is retrieved from the standard genetic code table.
The result shows the full name, 1-letter code, 3-letter abbreviation, polarity, and charge.
Browse the full 64-codon table below for any codon at a glance.

Use cases

Verify codon–amino acid assignments during molecular biology coursework.
Quickly check the start codon (ATG / AUG → Methionine) or stop codons.
Convert a sequence of codons to an amino acid string for protein translation.
Identify synonymous codons (codon degeneracy) for a given amino acid.
Reference biochemical properties such as polarity and charge while designing experiments.
Support genetics and biochemistry exam preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-07-01 · Reviewed by Nham Vu