The code of life: the genetic code
Within the nucleus of each of our cells a code is being employed to manufacture complex proteins at astonishing rates.
 | The code is written in the four letter alphabet of the bases and translated to the 20 letter alphabet of the amino acids.  |
The genetic code is used to store protein blueprints in DNA written in an alphabet of bases in the form of triplets called codons. The blueprint for a protein is transcribed to messenger RNA. The building blocks for proteins are the 20 amino acids used in life, and each is attached to a specific transfer RNA molecule so that protein building materials are available in the intracellular medium. By the process of translation in the ribosomes of the cell, the tRNAs transfer the appropriate amino acids to build the protein according to the blueprint carried by the mRNA.
| Transcription | Translation |
| Outline |
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