Final answer:
The genetic code must be non-overlapping, and this assumption is supported by evidence that any amino acid can follow another in a protein, which bolsters the Triplet Code hypothesis for genetic encoding and decoding.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assumption required to make a Huffman code is related to the field of Computer Science rather than Biology. However, in the context of the biological studies provided, the researchers are discussing the mathematical modeling of genetic codes, particularly the RNY (purine-any base-pyrimidine) code hypothesis for the origin of the genetic code. The primary biological assumption required for the genetic code, which relates to Huffman coding in terms of efficiency of information encoding, is that the genetic code must be non-overlapping. This conclusion emerges from the observation that almost any amino acid can follow another in a polypeptide, rendering the hypothesis of overlapping genetic codes untenable. Studies have provided evidence to support the Triplet Code hypothesis where three nucleotide bases in mRNA correspond to one amino acid in the synthesis of proteins.Furthermore, the discussions mentioned from the mathematical modeling perspective indicate that to derive the Standard Genetic Code (SGC) from the ØRNY initial condition, mathematical models would have to violate certain biological properties, which is not a feasible evolutionary path. This indirectly helps confirm the non-overlapping nature of the genetic code and its adherence to the Triplet Code, which is a fundamental aspect of molecular biology.