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Genetic Code: Submitted By-Poornima 2223 MSC Zoology Pre Submitted To-Dr Sudhir Kataria

The genetic code describes how nucleic acid sequences in genes are translated to specify amino acid sequences in proteins. It consists of 64 codons made up of 3 nucleotide bases that code for 20 amino acids. A codon is read continuously from left to right, with each codon coding for a single amino acid or stop signal. The genetic code is nearly universal across all lifeforms and has characteristics like redundancy, specificity, and directionality. It allows for mutations while maintaining function through phenomena like wobbling and multiple codons coding for the same amino acid. The genetic code was deciphered in the 1960s including the identification of start and stop codons.

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79 views

Genetic Code: Submitted By-Poornima 2223 MSC Zoology Pre Submitted To-Dr Sudhir Kataria

The genetic code describes how nucleic acid sequences in genes are translated to specify amino acid sequences in proteins. It consists of 64 codons made up of 3 nucleotide bases that code for 20 amino acids. A codon is read continuously from left to right, with each codon coding for a single amino acid or stop signal. The genetic code is nearly universal across all lifeforms and has characteristics like redundancy, specificity, and directionality. It allows for mutations while maintaining function through phenomena like wobbling and multiple codons coding for the same amino acid. The genetic code was deciphered in the 1960s including the identification of start and stop codons.

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GENETIC CODE

SUBMITTED BY-POORNIMA
2223
MSC ZOOLOGY PRE
SUBMITTED TO-DR SUDHIR KATARIA
Introduction
• Central dogma describes two
step process, transcription and
translation by which information
in genes flows into proteins.
• translation of mRNA into amino
acid sequence requires a genetic
code through which information
in nucleic acid sequence is
expressed to produce
specific sequence of amino
acids.
Genetic code
• Dictionary where set of three nucleotide bases in mRNA provide information for
amino acid during synthesis of polypeptide chain.
• The set of 3 nucleotide constitute a unit called CODON vch will code for
particular amino acid.
• Total 64 codons, 61 code for AA while
3 codons are non sense codons.
Why 64??
• We have 20 AA and 4 nucleotide bases
1 nucleotide as codon =4codons
2 nucleotide set as codon =16codons
3 nucleotide set as codon =64codons
Genetic code table
History
• George gamow proposed that each AA is coded by 3 sets of nucleotide k/a Codon
in 1950s.
• In 1961,Crick and Brenner also concluded that 3 nucleotide base code for specific
AA.
• Marshall w. Nirenberg and Heinrich Mathei created synthetic mRNA & identified
codon for Phenylalanine (UUU).
• In 1968,Nirenberg, Robert Holley, H. G. Khorana were awarded Nobel Prize for
interpretation of Genetic Code.

George gamow
Characteristics of GC
• Specific/unambiguous
given codon always
codes for particular
amino acid.

• Redundant/degenerate
single amino acid can have
multiple codons.
Universal
• Same code used throughout all life forms
Exceptions:Mitochondria=AGG & AGA-terminating codons,

AUA- Methionine , CUA-Threonine, UGA-Tryptophan


Archae and Eubacteria= UGA-Selenocysteine, UAG-Pyrrolysine

Triplet
• One codon consist of 3
Nucleotide bases
Non overlapping /non punctuated
• All codons are independent sets of 3 bases and read continuously
without any punctuation
• Starting point called reading frame
Start codon
• AUG – Methionine in eukaryotes & N-formyl Methionine in prokaryotes
• Some also have GUG&UUG as start codons

Stop codon
• 3 out of 64 codons called terminator or non sense codons
• Do not code for any amino acid
• Ribosome pauses and falls off mRNA
UAA-ochre
UAG-amber
UGA-opal
Polarity
• Code has definite direction for reading message from left to right
• Reading from right to left will specify for different AA
Codon and anticodon
• Base sequence of tRNA which pairs
with codon of mRNA durind translation
• Written in 3’ to 5’ direction

• Can pair with more


than one codon
Wobbling phenomenon
• By francis crick in 1966
• Flexibility of base at 3rd position of codon
• Base at 5’ end of anticodon shows non standard base pairing with base
at 3’end of codon.
Wobble hypothesis explains degeneracy
• A single amino acid have multiple
codons.
• Some tRNA have inosine at 1st position
which can pair with U, C, A (non standard
or non traditional) base pairing.
• Our body have around 40 tRNA which
can code for 61 codons.
• Reduced specificity in pairing is
responsible for wobbling.
• Eg:CUC, CUU both code for leucine and
GCA, GCC, GCU code for alanine.
Mutations
• Errors in codons caused by
changes in nucleotide bases
• Two Types:P
1. Point mutation – single base
substitution, they are of 3 types
• Silent mutation – change in one
nucleotide to other but do not
change amino acid
• Missense mutation-change in one nucleotide to other which results in different
AA sequence of protein, loss of functional capacity of protein
• Non sense mutation – change DNA sequence in a way that results in early stop
codon
2. Frame shift mutation –
insertion or removal of bases
can alter reading frame with
resultant incorporation of
different amino acids.

• Wobbling phenomenon
increases resistance of genes
to mutation
References
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_code
• https://www.britannica.com/science/genetic-code

• https://new.bhu.ac.in/Content/Syllabus/Syllabus_300620200501050518
.pdf
• http://epgp.inflibnet.ac.in › 1…PDFZOOLOGY Molecular Cell Biology
Principles of Gene Expression

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