What would happen if codons consisted of fewer than three bases?

If codons consisted of fewer than three bases, the genetic code would be significantly less efficient and versatile. With only one or two bases per codon, the number of possible combinations would drastically decrease, limiting the number of amino acids that could be encoded. For instance, with two bases, only 16 unique combinations could be formed, whereas three bases allow for 64 combinations, accommodating the 20 standard amino acids and enabling more complex protein structures. This reduction in codon length would likely hinder the complexity of organisms and their genetic diversity.