Yes, DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is a coded molecule that contains the genetic instructions for the development, functioning, and reproduction of all living organisms.
The code is based on the sequence of four chemical bases:
- Adenine (A)
- Guanine (G)
- Cytosine (C)
- Thymine (T)
These bases are arranged in a specific sequence along the DNA molecule, forming a “code” that carries genetic information. The sequence of these bases determines the genetic code, which is used to:
- Encode amino acids: The sequence of bases specifies the order of amino acids in proteins.
- Regulate gene expression: The code controls when and how genes are turned on or off.
- Store genetic information: The code contains the instructions for the development and function of an organism.
The genetic code is:
· Degenerate: More than one codon (sequence of three bases) can code for the same amino acid.
· Non-overlapping: Each codon is read separately, without overlapping with adjacent codons.
· Universal: The same code is used by almost all living organisms.
The discovery of the genetic code is attributed to Marshall Nirenberg, Heinrich Matthaei, and Francis Crick, among others, who deciphered the code in the 1960s.
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DNA letters that make up the amino acids is called the genetic code
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