GENETIC

CODE
The genetic code is the set of rules by
which information encoded in genetic
material (DNA or RNA sequences) is
translated into proteins (amino acid
sequences) by living cells.
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The code our body uses to convert the instructions
contained in our DNA the essential materials of life.
It is typically discussed using the “codons” found in
mRNA, as mRNA is the messenger that carries
information from the DNA to the site of protein
synthesis.
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The full set of relationships between codons and
amino acids (or stop signals) is called
the genetic code. The genetic code is often
summarized in a table.

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CODONS
 ◦ a sequence of three
What is nucleotides which
a together form a unit

codon?
of genetic code in a
DNA or RNA
molecule.
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Nucleo
tide

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 A nucleotide is one
What is
◦

of the structural
a components, or
nucleoti building blocks, of
de? DNA and RNA.

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 ◦ A nucleotide consists
What is of a base (one of four

a chemicals: adenine,
thymine, guanine, and
nucleoti cytosine) plus a
de? molecule of sugar and
one of phosphoric
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 C, T, and U are
What is
◦

called pyrimidines
a while A and G are
nucleoti called purines.
de?
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What is the PURINES PYRIMID
difference Has two INES
of purines nitrogen Has A
and
containing SINGLE
pyrimidines
? rings nitrogen
containing
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 ◦ Three nucleotides encode an
Points amino acid.
to ◦ The code is nonoverlapping.
◦ The code has “no”
rememb punctuation.
er ◦ The code has directionality.
◦ The code is degenerate.
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 ◦ DNA – only four bases
(A,T,G,C)
Points ◦ Must code for 20 amino acids
to ◦ Two-base code: 42 = 16
combinations
rememb ◦ Four-base code: 44 = 256
er combinations
◦ Three-base code: 43 = 64
combinations 15