Genetic Code – Molecular Basis of Inheritance
Last Updated : 01 Jun, 2023
CBSE Class12- Molecular Basis Of Inheritance- Genetic Code: The sequence
of nucleotides in deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid which
determines the amino acids sequence of proteins is known as Genetic code.
DNA consists of information for protein sequences. RNA consists of four
nucleotides: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and uracil (U). The
genetic code is made up of three nitrogen bases which are known as the
triplet code.
What is Genetic Code
Genetic code refers to the nucleotide sequence of the base on DNA or RNA
which translated into sequences of amino acids sequence of proteins.
A nucleic acid was copied to form another nucleic acid during the process of
replication and transcription. The process of translation needs to transfer
genetic information from the polymer of nucleotide to the polymer of amino
acids. Some evidences were there to support the notion that changes in
nucleic acids were responsible for the change in amino acids of the proteins
which led to the preposition of genetic code that direct the sequence of
amino acids during the synthesis of proteins.
George Gamow, a physicist said that there are only 4 bases, and if they code
for 20 amino acids then the code should consist of the combination of bases.
Further, he suggested that to code for all 20 amino acids the code should be
made up of 3 nucleotides. This was the bold preposition because of the
permutation combination 43(4*4*4).
Salient features of the genetic code are
There are some amino acids that are coded by more than one codon
therefore the code is degenerate.
There are 61 codons that code for amino acids and 3 codons which doesn’t
code for any amino acids therefore the codon are triplet.
AUG has dual functions which code for Methionine (met).
The stop terminator codons are UAA, UGA, and UAG.
The genetic code is nearly universal.
The codon is read in mRNA in a contiguous fashion, therefore, no
punctuations.
Genetic Code
What is Genetic Table?
The set of relationships between amino acids and codons is known as genetic
code. When a genetic code is summarized in a table it is known as a Genetic
code Table. Amino acids represent in the table by more than one codon.
Example – In total, there are 6 ways to write leucine in mRNA language.
Properties of Genetic Code
Nonoverlapping Code: When a code read in a group that initially becomes
part of the triplet which becomes a part of the triplet and can never again
become a part of the next triplet is known as a nonoverlapping code.
Degenerate Code: Except tryptophan and methionine every amino acid is
coded by other codons therefore some codons are synonyms and this is
known as the degeneracy of genetic code.
Triplet Code: Strong proof is available that sequences of three nucleotides
code for an amino acid in the protein is known as triplet. There are 64 codons
for 20 amino acids where every codon for amino acid means that there exists
more code for a same amino acid.
Universal Nature or Non-ambiguous: Same genetic codes are seen in all
organisms which means they are universal in nature whereas genetic code is
non-ambiguous for a particular codon that will code for a particular amino
acid.
Comma less Code: No room for punctuation is there in between them which
shows every codon is adjacent to the previous one without any nucleotides
between them.
Start and Stop Codons: The start codon is the AUG codon whereas the stop
codons are UAG, UGA, and UAA.
Polarity: The triplet can read from 5′ – 3′ directions, the beginning base is 5′
followed by the middle and last the last base which is 3′. Therefore these
codons have fixed polarity.
Exceptions of Genetic Code
Due to similar codons being seen in all organisms, the genetic code is
universal along with the same START and STOP signals in the genes of
microorganisms and plants. Therefore there are few exceptions which include
one or two STOP codons of an amino acid.
Though GUG is meant for valine both the codons GUG and AUG code for
methionine as starting codons which breaks the property of non-
ambiguousness. Therefore, few codes are different from universal code or
non-ambiguous code.
FAQs on Genetic Code
Q1: What do you mean by Genetic code?
Answer:
Genetic code refers to the sequence of nucleotides in deoxyribonucleic acid
and ribonucleic acid which determines the amino acids sequence of proteins.
Q2: State why the genetic code degenerates.
Answer:
The genetic code degenerate because some amino acids are coded by more
than one codon.
Q3: Discuss why the codon is a triplet.
Answer:
There are 61 codons that code for amino acids and 3 codons which doesn’t
code for any amino acids therefore the codon are triplet.
Q4: Write some features of the genetic code.
Answer:
Some of the features of the genetic code are:
AUG has dual functions which code for Methionine (met).
The stop terminator codons are UAA, UGA, and UAG.
The genetic code is nearly universal.
The codon is read in mRNA in a contiguous fashion therefore no
punctuations.