A new integrated symmetrical table for genetic codes

Biosystems. 2017 Jan:151:21-26. doi: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2016.11.004. Epub 2016 Nov 23.

Abstract

Degeneracy is a salient feature of genetic codes, because there are more codons than amino acids. The conventional table for genetic codes suffers from an inability of illustrating a symmetrical nature among genetic base codes. In fact, because the conventional wisdom avoids the question, there is little agreement as to whether the symmetrical nature actually even exists. A better understanding of symmetry and an appreciation for its essential role in the genetic code formation can improve our understanding of nature's coding processes. Thus, it is worth formulating a new integrated symmetrical table for genetic codes, which is presented in this paper. It could be very useful to understand the Nobel laureate Crick's wobble hypothesis - how one transfer ribonucleic acid can recognize two or more synonymous codons, which is an unsolved fundamental question in biological science.

Keywords: Genetic codes; Symmetry; Table.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Cell Nucleus / genetics
  • Codon / genetics*
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Genetic Code / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Models, Genetic*
  • RNA, Transfer / genetics*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Codon
  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • RNA, Transfer