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genetic code |
Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.03 sec. |
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code (kōd) 1. a set of rules for regulating conduct. 2. a system by which information can be communicated. genetic code the arrangement of nucleotides in the polynucleotide chain of a chromosome governing transmission of genetic information to proteins, i.e., determining the sequence of amino acids in the polypeptide chain making up each protein synthesized by the cell. triplet code codon.
genetic code, the information carried by DNA that determines the specific amino acids and their sequence in each protein synthesized by an organism. The code consists of the sequence of nucleotides in the DNA molecule of each chromosome in the nucleus of every cell. During transcription, a specific part of the code is transcribed into a sequence of nucleotides in the messenger RNA (mRNA). The mRNA travels from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where it is translated into protein by the ribosomes. A codon consisting of three consecutive nucleotides in the mRNA codes for each amino acid in the protein. A change in the code may result in an incorrect sequence of the amino acids in the protein, causing a mutation. See also anticodon, transcription, translation. code 1. a set of rules governing one's conduct. Called also ethical code. 2. a system by which information can be communicated. 3. a set of alphabetical or numerical markers which are an index to a much larger bank of information. code of ethics see code of ethics. genetic code the arrangement of nucleotides in the polynucleotide chain of a chromosome that governs the transmission of genetic information to proteins, i.e. determines the sequence of amino acids in the polypeptide chain making up each protein synthesized by the cell. See also genetic code. code of practice/conduct a document produced by an authoritative body to provide a guide to people in their conduct relative to, for example, animal welfare, or their practice, for example, in the housing and feeding of pigs. It is the sort of document that is used when testing in a practical situation rules which are planned to be included in subsequent legislation. genetic 1. pertaining to reproduction or to birth or origin. 2. inherited. genetic abnormality inherited defect, which may or may not be congenital. genetic analysis analysis of breeding and pedigree records to establish degrees of relationship between single animals and groups of animals. Segregation analysis with full-sibling families is an obvious technique. genetic code the manner in which the arrangement of nucleotides in the polynucleotide chain of a chromosome governs the transmission of genetic information to proteins, i.e. determines the sequence of amino acids in the polypeptide chain making up each protein synthesized by the cell. Genetic information is coded in DNA by means of four bases (two purines: adenine and guanine; and two pyrimidines: thymine and cystosine). Each adjacent sequence of three bases (a codon) determines which of the 20 amino acids will be inserted into the nascent polypeptide. genetic complementation see complementation. genetic control of inherited disease consists of preventing carrier animals from contributing their genes to succeeding generations of the population of which they are members. genetic correlation a change in an unselected character resulting from selection of another character during a breeding program. genetic defects defects of function or structure passed on from parents to offspring. Inherited defects. genetic determination see broad-sense heritability. genetic disease resistance inherited resistance to diseases caused by non-hereditary risk factors. genetic dominance see dominance (2). genetic drift see antigenic drift. genetic engineering the manipulation of genes by recombinant DNA technologies to produce chromosomal combinations that are unlikely to occur by natural means, for example the introduction of genes for insulin into a yeast cell which then produces insulin which can be purified and used as a therapeutic substance. See also recombinant DNA technology. genetic etiology disease caused by inheritance of specific disease without the intervention of other risk factors; established by strongly positive relationship in terms of genes held in common between the affected patient and other affected individuals. genetic evaluation assessment, for predictive purposes, of productive improvement or conformational characteristics, of the gain to be derived by the use of the animal in question in a breeding program. genetic expressivity see expressivity. genetic heterogeneity demonstrated by the way in which more than one disease with identical clinical signs can be inherited. genetic immunization use of a cloned genetically engineered gene with an encoded antigen to immunize the host against that antigen. See also DNA vaccine. genetic map the linear arrangement of genes along a chromosome. Called also linkage map. genetic merit inherited productivity or performance qualities. mobile genetic elements see transposable genetic elements (below). genetic penetrance see penetrance. genetic production potential inherited productivity but still influenced by environmental risk factors. genetic resistance genetically determined resistance to specified infectious agents. genetic selection selection of animals as breeding stock on the basis of known inherited characteristics. transposable genetic elements pieces of DNA varying in length from a few hundred to tens of thousands of base pairs found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells that move from place to place in the chromosomes of a single cell; some are viruses. Called also mobile genetic elements or transposons. genetic variance that portion of the phenotypic variance of a trait in a population which can be attributed to genetic difference amongst individuals. genetic code Genetics A sequence of nucleotides, coded in triplets/codons along the mRNA, that determines the sequence of amino acids in a protein; a gene's DNA sequence can be used to predict an mRNA sequence; the 'words'
and 'language' that govern the way in which genetic information–DNA is 'written' in the genome and translated into the proteins that perform the genes' activities. See Amino acid, Code, Codon, DNA, Gene, DNA
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