Question

When is a Code degenerate?

Answer 1

Genetic code :

1. Genetic code is the nucleotide-based sequence on DNA and subsequently on mRNA by transcription which will be translated into a sequence of amino acids of the protein to be synthesized.
2. The code is composed of codons
3. Codon is composed of 3 bases, for example, ACG or UAG.
4. Each codon is translated into one amino acid.
5. There are 64 codons and 20 amino acids so several codons will code for the same amino acids.

The code is degenerate when,

1. Genetic code is a reductant also called degenerate.
2. Although each codon corresponds to a single amino acid and this single amino acid can have multiple codons.
3. The code is highly degenerate which is most of the amino acids are coded for more than one amino acid.
4. Only for Tryptophan and Methionine, each amino acid has multiple codons.