What is a genetic code? Write its four main peculiarities.

A genetic code is defined as the sequence of nucleotides in DNA and RNA that determines the amino acid sequence of proteins. Although the linear nucleotide sequence in DNA contains the information for protein sequences, proteins are not made directly from DNA. Instead, a messenger RNA molecule is synthesised from the DNA in the process of transcription and directs the formation of the protein. Four peculiarities of a genetic code are as follows. The sequence of the nucleotides on the mRNA chain that is translated into the amino acids depends on the triplet sequence of the nucleotides that decides which amino acid will be formed. One triplet codon codes only for one amino acid. The genetic code is unambiguous and specific. Sixty-one codons code for 20 amino acids and three codons do not code for any amino acids.

Comment upon human genome project.

The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international research program designed to study, identify, and map the genes in the human genome from both a physical and a functional standpoint. Its aim was to determine the base-pair sequences in human DNA and to store this information in computer databases. The HGP was considered a megaproject because of the following reasons. Its specific goal was to sequence every base pair in the human genome. It had invested a huge amount of money in the most advanced technologies, many scientists, and a long span of time to completely sequence the human genome.