Question

Explain the "Genetic Code." What is it? How is it similar amongst all living things? What does this mean as far as the development of life on Earth?

Answer 1

DNA is the genetic material carries information from generation to generation which contains-

1) Phosphoric acid

2)Deoxyribose sugar and

3)Nitrogen bases.

Out of three only nitrogen bases vary from one segment of DNA to another, rest two are constant. So the sequence of these bases are identical to library sequence of amino acids in a protein molecule.The specific arrangement of of four nitrogen bases (ATCG)   in DNA polynucleotides chains determines the sequence of amino acids in protein molecules. Therefore these four bases can be considered as four alphabets of DNA molecule. So the group of three alphabets which specifies one amino acid is a code word or codon or genetic code. Same genetic code is valid for all organisms ranging from bacteria to man. So it's universal.