The genetic code and nucleic acids

Question 1

What is the genetic code?

Answer 1

A sequence of base triplets in mRNA which code for specific amino acids

Question 2

What does it mean for the genetic code to be non-overlapping?

Answer 2

Each base triplet is read in sequence separate from the triplets before and after it

Question 3

What does it mean for the genetic code to be degenerate?

Answer 3

There are more possible combination of triplets than there are amino acids. Some amino acids are coded for by more than one base triplet

Question 4

What does it mean for the genetic code to be universal?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What are stop/start codons used for?

Answer 5

To tell the cell when to stop/start the production of proteins