THE GENETIC CODE

This table shows the bases found on codons of the messenger RNA strand.

To read the code start on the left column with the first letter, then use the top line and finally the right hand column.

The degenerate genetic code

A few amino acids are coded for by a single codon.

Most are coded for by more than one codon. Some are coded for by up to six codons. This is degeneracy in the code.

Three codons are nonsense codons they represent the end of the information = STOP.

The codon for methionine found at the beginning of the information to be transcribed it means START. The methionine amino acid is usually removed from the finished protein.

© Paul Billiet 2008