The genetic code is the set of rules used by living organisms to interpret the information encoded within their genetic material, such as DNA or RNA. It defines the relationship between the sequence of nucleotides in DNA (or RNA) and the sequence of amino acids in proteins.
The main properties of the genetic code are:
1. It is universal: All living organisms use the same genetic code to translate genetic information into proteins.
2. It is redundant: There are multiple codons (three nucleotide sequence) that code for the same amino acid. This redundancy ensures that changes in DNA sequence that may result in a different codon can still code for the same amino acid and maintain the protein's function.
3. It is non-overlapping: Each nucleotide in the DNA sequence is read only once and is in a specific order; codons do not overlap.
4. It is conservative: The genetic code is highly conserved, meaning that changes in the codon sequence are rare and tend to be conservative (i.e. switching to a similar amino acid).
5. It is unambiguous: Each codon unambiguously codes for a specific amino acid.
6. It is hierarchical: Certain codons are designated as "start" or "stop" codons, which initiate or terminate translation.
What is a genetic code? What are the properties of genetic code?
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