Features of the genetic code

• The genetic code is NON-OVERLAPPING. What does this mean?


  Each triplet is only read once and triplets don't share any bases
• What are genes separated by?

  Non-coding repeats of bases
• Genetic code is DEGENERATE. What does this mean?


  More than one triplet codes for the same amino acid , this reduces the number of MUTATIONS
• what are mutations?

  mistakes in the base sequence such as:

  • base deletion
  • base insertion
  • base substitution