Start codons (AUG) and stop codons (UAA, UAG, UGA) are essential for the initiation and termination of protein synthesis. The start codon marks where translation begins, instructing the ribosome to start reading the mRNA. The stop codons, on the other hand, signal the end of the protein coding sequence, ensuring the protein is complete and that synthesis stops at the correct point. These codons act as the “traffic signals” for the protein-building process
