The Genetic Code: Tryptophan And Methionine
408 Words2 Pages
The genetic code is non-overlapping.
The genetic code has no internal punctuation and since it is read chronologically from a starting point (though the "stop" codons function as "periods" during translation).
The reading frame of the codons is shifted after the mutation and often results in a stop codon shortly afterward. Due to the extreme effect, frame shift mutations are often harmful.
DEGENERATE
Most amino acids in the genetic code are encoded by more than one codon. But Tryptophan and Methionine only has one codon. In the last base of the triplet codons which specify the same amino acids are called synonyms which differ in the last base.
Degeneracy is important since it helps reduce the harmful effects of mutations because point mutations,