Genetic Code
• First introduced by George Gamow in 1954.
• The term genetic code was first discovered by Marshall Nirenberg.
• 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.
• The genetic code consists of the sequence of nitrogen bases—A, C, G, U—in an mRNA
chain.
• The four bases make up the “letters” of the genetic code. The letters are combined in
groups of three to form code, called codons.
• Each codon codes for (encodes) one amino acid, except the codons for start or stop
signal
Characteristics of genetic code
i. Genetic code is a triplet code : one amino acid in a polypeptide chain
comprises of a sequence of 3 nitrogen bases.
ii. Genetic code is comma less : A comma less code means that no comma
or punctuation is present in between two codons. Therefore, code is
continuous.
iii. Genetic Code is degenerate: The occurrence of more than one codon for
a single amino acid is referred to as degenerate. E.g., Arginine, Alanine
and Leucine each have six codons.
iv. Genetic Code is Non-overlapping : A non overlapping code means
that the same letter is not used for two different codons.
v. Genetic Code is Non-ambiguous: Non-ambiguous code means a
particular codon will always code for the same amino acid. While the
same amino acid can be coded by more than one codon.
vi. Genetic Code is universal : Universality of the code means that the
same sequences of 3 bases encode the same amino acids in all life
forms, from simple microorganisms to complex multicellular
organisms such as human beings.
vii. Genetic code has collinearity : the codons in DNA and mRNA and the
corresponding amino acid residues in the polypeptide chain have a linear
arrangement.
viii. Genetic code has chain initiation (start) and chain termination (stop)
codons : The triplet AUG is the start codon or initiating codon, present in
the beginning of the mRNA encoding methionine. Rarely GUG, which codes
for valine at intermediate positions acts as start codon in some bacteria. The
3 triplets UAA, UAG, UGA do not code for any amino acid. They are called
stop codons or chain termination codons because they signal the end of the
translation process.
WOBBLE HYPOTHESIS
• There are more than one codon for one amino acid. This is called
degeneracy of genetic code.
• To explain the possible cause of degeneracy of codons, in 1966, Francis
Crick proposed “the Wobble hypothesis”.
• Codons are the triplet nucleotide codes which code for the amino acid.
• Wobble hypothesis states that the genetic codes are degenerate. It
explains that the third base pairing varies with respect to the base at
the third position like G may pair with T or U.
• The Wobble position of the codon is the third nucleotide.
Contributions of Har Gobind
Khorana
• Har Gobind Khorana – Indian-American who contributed in
discoveries related to genetic code and its function in protein
synthesis.
• Shared Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1968 with Robert W.
Holley and Marshell W. Nirenberg.
Some of the contributions:
• Chemical Synthesis of DNA
• Exploration of DNA Polymerases
• Development of Oligonucleotide Synthesis
• Confirmation of the Universal Genetic Code
Thank you..