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