Biology › Section H · Gene expression and its regulation › Topic H.1
The genetic code
Four nucleotides must spell twenty amino acids - and life settled on three-letter words. The central dogma traces the flow from DNA through mRNA to protein, and the triplet code that makes it work turns out to be degenerate, nearly universal, and beautifully armoured against typos.
In this topic
- The Central Dogma
- Three alphabets
- Why three-letter words
- Crick and Brenner's frameshift test
- Start and stop signals
- Degenerate and universal
- Degeneracy as armour
- When the dogma bends
- Worked example: from DNA to peptide
- Worked example: predicting frameshift damage
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
This topic is part of Wuanberri Pro. Checking your access…