Question

What are the postulates of the genetic code?

Answer 1

Genetic Code:

1. Genetic code refers to the information conveyed or carried from parent generation to offspring.
2. The following are the key characteristics of genetic code:
   1. As a result, each codon has three bases, yielding a total of 64 codons. Only 61 of these 64 codons are capable of producing amino acids. The remaining three are used as stop codons during the translation process.
   2. One codon is in charge of directing the reactions that result in the production of an amino acid. As a result, the process is extremely specific and focused.
   3. Some amino acids can be produced using multiple codons. This is referred to as genetic code degeneracy. Valine (Val), for example, has four different sequential codons for production. GUA, GUC, GUU, and GUG are the letters.
   4. Codons are in charge of the formation of mRNA. mRNA, on the other hand, is in charge of gene production.
   5. Another distinguishing feature of the genetic code is its universality. That is, one codon will result in the formation of one amino acid. For example, the genetic code for phenylalanine (Phe) is UUU. It is shared by all living things. This means that a bacterium's Phe will be similar to that of a human.
   6. Codons can also serve two functions. AUG, for example, is the genetic code for Methionine (Met). It also serves as a start codon or initiator.
   7. The standard genetic code is virtually universal among all extant life forms.