What is the Difference Between Genetic Code and Codon?

The genetic code and codon are essential concepts in gene expression and protein synthesis. The main difference between them is as follows:

• Genetic Code: The genetic code is a set of rules used to translate genetic information encoded within the genetic material (DNA or RNA) into amino acids in a protein. It is the complete sequence of nucleotides in a gene, responsible for the correct order of the amino acids of the protein to be synthesized. The genetic code is often summarized in a table, which shows the relationships between codons and amino acids or stop signals.
• Codon: A codon is a three-nucleotide sequence that represents a particular amino acid in a protein. Codons are the basic units of the genetic code, and genetic code is a collection of codons. There are 64 different codons, with 61 specifying amino acids and 3 used as stop signals. Each codon instructs the cell to start, add a specific amino acid to, or stop the creation of the protein chain.

In summary, the genetic code is the overall sequence of nucleotides in a gene that encodes the information for protein synthesis, while a codon is a specific three-nucleotide sequence within the genetic code that represents a single amino acid or a stop signal in the protein.

Comparative Table: Genetic Code vs Codon

The genetic code and codons are essential components of gene expression and protein synthesis. Here is a table highlighting the differences between them:

The genetic code is a universal system of rules used to translate genetic information encoded within nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) into amino acid chains in proteins. The genetic code is often summarized in a table, which shows the relationships between codons and amino acids or stop signals. Codons are the three-letter sequences of mRNA nucleotides that correspond to a specific amino acid or a stop codon.