What is Genetic code???
• Genetic code is a dictionary that corresponds with
sequence of nucleotides and sequence of amino acids.
• Genetic code is a set of rules by which information
encoded in genetic material(DNA or RNA sequences)
is translated into proteins by living cells.
• Term given By ″ Goerge Gamow ʺ
Introduction of genetic code
The letters A,G,T and C correspond to
the nucleotides found in DNA. They
are organized into codon.
The collection of codons is called Genetics
code.
For 20 amino acids there should be 20
codons.
Each codon should have 3 nucleotides to
impart specificity to each of the amino acid
for a specific codon.
1 nucleotide – 4 combinations
2 nucleotide-16 combinations
3nucleotide- 64 combinations( most suited for
Genetic code can be expressed in a
simple table with 64 entries
Codon and its type
• Genetic code is a Dictionary consists
of “Genetic words” called CODONS.
• Each codon consists of three bases
(triplet)
• There are 64 codons.
• 61 codons code for 20 amino acids found
in protein.
• 3 codons do not code for any amino acid.
Type of codon
Sense Codons
Signal Codons
• Start codons
• Stop codons
Sense codon:-
The codon
that code for
amino
a
c
i
d
a
r
conti…..
“Terminating Codons”
UAA, UAG & UGA are termination codons or
nonsense codons & are often referred to as amber, ochre
& opal codons.
“Initiating codon”
AUG is the initiation codon. It codes for the first amino
acid in all proteins.
At the starting point it codes for methionine in
eukaryotes & formyl methionine in prokaryotes.
ANTICODON
• The base sequence of t RNA which pairs with codon
of mRNA during translation is called anticodon.
Different between codon and
anticodon
• Codon could be present in both DNA &
RNA, but anticodon is always present in RNA
& never in DNA.
• Codons are written in 5 to 3 direction whereas
anticodons are usually written in 3 to 5
direction.
• Anticodon of some tRNA molecules have to
pair with more than one codon.
CONTI….
• Codons are sequentially arranged in
nucleic acid strand while anticodons are
discretely present in cells with amino acids
attached or not.
• Codon defines which anticodon should
come next with an amino acid to create the
protein strand.
• Anticodon helps in bringing a
particular amino acid at its proper
position during translation.
“Genetic code is triplet”
• The genetic code is triplet. There are 64 codons.
“Universality”
• The genetic code is universal.
• AUG is the codon for methionine in mitochondria.
The same codon (AUG) codes for isoleucine in
cytoplasm. With some exceptions noted the genetic code
is universal.
“ Non-Ambiguous”
• The genetic code is non-ambiguous.
• Thus one codon can not specify more than one amino
acid.
“Non-overlapping”
• One base cannot participate in the formation of more than
one codon.
• This means that the code is non-overlapping.
“Continuous Translation”
• The gene is transcribed & translated continuously from a
fixed starting point to a fixed stop point.
• Punctuations are not present between the codons.
“The code has polarity”
• The code has a definite direction for reading of
message which is referred to as polarity.
• Reading of message from left to right & right to left
will specify for different amino acids.
• For Example UUG stands for leucine, & from right to
left it is GUU which stands for valine.
Degeneracy of genetic code
• An amino acid can be coded for by more than
one codon. This is called degeneracy of genetic
code.
Wobble hypothesis
• Crick postulated the ‘wobble hypothesis’ to account
for the degeneracy of genetic code. According this
hypothesis, the first two bases of a codon pair according
to the normal base pairing rules with the last two bases of
the anticodon. Base-pairing at the third position of a
codon is wobble
Wobble hypothesis explains
degeneracy
• Wobble hypothesis explains the degeneracy
of the genetic code, i.e, existence of multiple
codons for a single amino acid. Although there
are 61 codons for amino acids, the number of
tRNA is far less (around 40)which is due to
wobbling.
Biological significance of
degeneracy of the genetic
• code
If the code were not degenerate, 20
codons would designated amino acids and
44 would lead to chain termination.
• The probability of mutating to chain
termination would therefore be much
higher with a non degenerate code.
FLOW OF GENETIC INFORMATION
CLINIC SIGNIFICANCE
• Mutation can be well explained using the genetic
code.
• A) Point Mutations
1) Silent
2) Misense
3) Nonsense
• B) Frame shift mutations
Silent Mutations
• Single nucleotide change-A to G, same
amino acid is incorporated. Mutation goes
unnoticed.
Missense mutations
• Single nucleotide change A to C- different
amino acid incorporated. Loss of functional
capacity of protein.
Non sense Mutation
• Single nucleotide change from C to T, stop
codon is generated (In m RNA represented by
UAG), premature termination of chain, may be
incompatible with life.
Frame shift Mutation
• Insertion or removal of a bases can alter the
reading frame with the resultant incorporation of
different amino acids.
