Protein Synthesis
The sequence of nucleotide bases on a gene provides a code that is an instruction for a protein that is built through transcription and translation. This is the basis of the ‘one gene one polypeptide’ hypothesis such as coding for:
•Structural proteins (keratin and collagen)
•Haemoglobin
•Immunoglobulins (antibodies)
•Cell surface receptors
•Antigens
•Actin and myosin (form muscle)
•Channel proteins
•Electron carriers
•Enzymes
The genetic code is a triplet codon. Three nucleotide bases code for one amino acid. The number of different triplet sequences are 43 or 64.
The code is non-overlapping, as each base is part of one codon.
It is also degenerate, where different codons code for the same amino acid.