Code Genetic

Genetic code: basics of heredity

Every organism on Earth, whether animal, plant or bacterium, has its own unique set of genes that determine its phenotypic characteristics. It is the genes found in DNA that are the main carrier of hereditary information. But how is this information encoded and transmitted from one generation to another? In this article we will look at the concept of the genetic code and its role in heredity.

The genetic code is the main mechanism for transmitting hereditary information from parents to offspring. It consists of a sequence of nucleotides (bases) in DNA that code for the sequence of amino acids in a protein. Each sequence of three nucleotides is called a codon, and each codon codes for a specific amino acid. For example, the AUG codon codes for the amino acid methionine. Thus, the sequence of codons in a gene determines the sequence of amino acids in the protein.

The genetic code is universal for all living organisms on Earth and consists of 64 different codons. Three of them do not encode amino acids, but serve as signals for the start and end of translation, and also indicate a gap in the sequence. The remaining 61 codons code for 20 standard amino acids, and some of them code for the same amino acid in different ways. For example, the codons GCU, GCC, GCA, and GCG all code for the amino acid alanine.

The genetic code was discovered in 1961 by American biochemist Marshall Nirenberg, who and his colleagues conducted a series of experiments to determine which codons code for which amino acids. These experiments led to the discovery of the universal genetic code and showed that it is the same for all living organisms.

The genetic code is of great importance not only for heredity, but also for biology in general. It allows you to understand how the mechanism of protein synthesis works, and what mutations can lead to changes in the structure of proteins and the occurrence of various diseases. In addition, the genetic code is the basis for various genetic engineering methods, which make it possible to create new proteins with desired properties and use them in medicine, industry and other fields.

In conclusion, the genetic code is one of the fundamental concepts of biology, which allows us to understand how hereditary information is transmitted from generation to generation, and how the mechanism of protein synthesis works. The study of the genetic code is key to understanding many biological processes and is of great importance for medicine, industry and other fields. Despite the fact that the genetic code was discovered more than half a century ago, science continues to expand its knowledge about it and its role in the life of organisms. The study of the genetic code continues and will continue in biology and related fields of science and technology.

From the history of the genetic code

The genetic code was first discovered in the 19th century thanks to the work of the Russian scientist Dmitry Iosifovich Ivanovsky. In his works, he described how influenza viruses can infect body cells by transferring their DNA into the body's cells. Investigating these phenomena, Ivanovsky came to the conclusion that