Codons are sequences of three nucleotides in DNA or RNA that correspond to specific amino acids or signal the termination of protein synthesis. Each codon is part of the genetic code, which dictates how the information in genes is translated into proteins, the building blocks of life. In the process of translation, ribosomes read the codons in mRNA to assemble amino acids in the correct order, forming proteins. There are 64 possible codons, but only 20 amino acids, meaning some amino acids are encoded by multiple codons, providing a level of redundancy in the genetic code.