Which statement best defines wobble base pairing and its significance in translation?

• A. Binding of RNA polymerase to promoter sequences.
• B. Wobble refers to relaxed pairing at the third codon position, allowing some tRNAs to recognize multiple codons and reducing tRNA diversity needed.
• C. DNA methylation of CpG dinucleotides influences transcription.
• D. The process of proofreading during DNA replication by DNA polymerase.

Answer: (B)

Wobble base pairing is the relaxed interaction at the third position of the codon during translation, allowing certain tRNAs to recognize multiple codons. Because many amino acids are encoded by more than one codon that differ only at the third base, the cell can translate efficiently with fewer tRNA types. The anticodon on the tRNA can form nonstandard pairs with the third codon base—for example, inosine in the anticodon can pair with A, U, or C in the codon—so a single tRNA can read several codons for the same amino acid. This reduces the number of tRNA species the cell must maintain while still producing the correct protein.

Other choices describe processes in transcription or DNA replication, not translation, and thus don’t capture wobble’s role in decoding mRNA into protein.