Question

What is genetic code? Mention the essential qualities for a universal genetic code.

Answer 1

The structure of nitrogen base in mRNA in a molecule which contains the information for the synthesis of the protein molecule.

The salient features of the genetic code are-

Triplet- single amino acid is specified by a sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA which is known as codons.

A codon specifies the same amino acid in all organism from viruses to a human being this is universal.

These are commaless- there is no pause, so it is continuously.

Non-overlapping between adjacent nucleosides.

Initiation codon- the synthesis of the polypeptide chain is initiated by initiation codon it is AUG which is methionine.

Termination codons are also known as a nonsense codon.

Degeneracy single amino acids are specified by many codons which are known as degeneracy.