genetic code

noun

: the biochemical basis of heredity consisting of codons in DNA and RNA that determine the specific amino acid sequence in proteins and appear to be uniform for nearly all known forms of life

Examples of genetic code in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This year, researchers conducted a new analysis of Hauser’s hair samples and were able to prove that his mitochondrial DNA, or genetic code passed down on the maternal side, did not match the mitochondrial DNA from the Baden family. —Cnn, The Mercury News, 25 Dec. 2024

If someone gets co-infected with a seasonal flu virus and bird flu, the two can exchange chunks of genetic code. —Evan Bush, NBC News, 22 Dec. 2024

And our genetic code also contains echoes from another group of extinct human cousins, the Denisovans. —Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024

Where the actual genetic code of mostly regulatory regions — so regions that tell a gene to make more of it or make less of it, right? —Janna Levin, Quanta Magazine, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

genetic code

noun

: the chemical code that is the basis of genetic inheritance and consists of units of three linked chemical groups which specify particular kinds of amino acids used to make proteins or which start or stop the process of making proteins

Medical Definition

genetic code

noun

: the biochemical basis of heredity consisting of codons in DNA and RNA that determine the specific amino acid sequence in proteins and that appear to be uniform for all known forms of life

genetic coding noun