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The Genetic Code definitions

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  • Codon
    A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that specifies a particular amino acid or signals translation termination.
  • Triplet Code
    A system where three consecutive nucleotides determine the identity of a single amino acid during protein synthesis.
  • Degeneracy
    A feature where multiple nucleotide triplets can encode the same amino acid, providing redundancy in the code.
  • Non-overlapping
    A property where each nucleotide is read only once as part of a single codon, preventing shared bases between codons.
  • Universality
    A characteristic where nearly all organisms use the same nucleotide-to-amino acid correspondence, with rare exceptions.
  • Start Codon
    A specific nucleotide triplet (AUG) that signals the initiation of translation and the first amino acid in a protein.
  • Stop Codon
    One of three nucleotide triplets (UAA, UAG, UGA) that signal the end of translation, not coding for any amino acid.
  • Reading Frame
    A way of dividing a nucleotide sequence into consecutive, non-overlapping triplets for translation.
  • Bacteriophage
    A virus that infects bacterial cells, often used in experiments to study genetic mechanisms.
  • Mutation
    A change in the nucleotide sequence that can alter the reading frame or amino acid sequence of a protein.
  • Reversion
    A genetic event where a second mutation restores the original phenotype, often by correcting a previous reading frame disruption.
  • RNA Homopolymer
    A synthetic RNA molecule composed of only one type of nucleotide, used to decipher codon assignments.
  • RNA Heteropolymer
    A synthetic RNA molecule containing two or more types of nucleotides in a repeating pattern, aiding in code deciphering.
  • Polypeptide
    A chain of amino acids assembled according to the sequence of codons in mRNA during translation.
  • Proflavin
    A chemical mutagen that induces single nucleotide insertions or deletions, used to study reading frame shifts.