Is genetic code universal? (2024)

Genetic code:

1. The genetic code is the set of rules which are used by living cells to translate information encoded within the genetic material into proteins.
2. This translation is done by the ribosome, which links proteinogenic amino acids in an order provided by the mRNA molecules, and uses tRNA molecules to carry amino acids and to read the genetic material.
3. It is considered universal because humans, animals, plants and bacteria all have the exact same genetic code.
4. All known organisms have the same four nucleotide bases (adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine) but are different due to different arrangements of these nucleotide bases.
5. A sequence of nucleotide triplets together form an amino acid, also known as a codon. A codon forms the basis of genetic code.
6. The start codon is the first codon of a messenger RNA, which is translated by a ribosome. It codes for methionine amino acid in eukaryotes and archaea, and n-formyl methionine amino acid in bacteria and mitochondria. The most common start codon is AUG (in the DNA sequence).

So, we can say that genetic code is universal.

See Also

Major Types of Mutations | Biology for Majors I5.6 Genetic Code – Human Biology – Excerpts for BBIO 053genetic code