How are amino acids related to codons during protein synthesis?

Amino acids are incorporated into proteins based on the instructions provided by codons during protein synthesis. Each codon consists of a sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that corresponds to a specific amino acid. This relationship is crucial for translating the genetic information stored in DNA into functional proteins. The ribosome reads the mRNA codons, and with the help of transfer RNA (tRNA), it brings the appropriate amino acids in sequence, ensuring that proteins are built correctly according to the genetic code.

This process ensures that proteins are composed of the right order of amino acids needed for their structure and function, illustrating the precise nature of molecular biology in the synthesis of proteins. The other choices do not accurately represent this fundamental relationship: amino acids are not added randomly, codons do not encode vitamins or minerals, and there is a direct interaction between amino acids and codons, as the codons determine which amino acids are to be incorporated in the protein.