Genetic code

Question 1

what is the genetic code

Answer 1

sequence of base triplets (codons)in DNA or mRNA which code for specific amino acids

Question 2

what is a gene?
how is it read?

Answer 2

-length of DNA with a specific sequence of bases that code for a specific sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide/protein

-read in discrete non-overlapping way

Question 3

why is the genetic code universal

Answer 3

same specific base triplets code for the same amino acids in all living things

Question 4

why is the genetic code degenerate

Answer 4

there are more possible combinations of triplets than amino acids (20 amino acids, 64 possible triplets)
= some amino acids are coded for by more than one base

Question 5

what are stop and start codons

Answer 5

start and end of a gene