Question

One of the salient features of genetic code is codon is triplet and 61 codons code for amino acids and 3 codons are stop codons. Make a list of other salient features of genetic code.

Answer 1

1. Genetic code is unambiguous and specific: A codon always species the same amino acid, it cannot code for more than one amino acid.

2. Genetic code is degenerate: Some amino acids are coded by more than one codon.

3. Genetic code is universal: Each codon of it species or codes for the same kind of amino acid in all organisms. (Eg. UUU-phenyl alanine).

4. Genetic code is polarised: In specifying a particular polypeptide, the genetic code has a definite initiation codon and a terminal codon.