Final answer:
The genetic code is a set of rules that translates genetic information into proteins. It uses codons to encode specific amino acids. The genetic code is universal, unambiguous, and redundant.
Step-by-step explanation:
The genetic code is the set of rules that translates the information in DNA or RNA into the production of proteins. It consists of a sequence of three nitrogen bases called codons. Each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid, which is the building block of proteins.
For example, the codon GUC-GCG-CAU-AGC-AAG translates into the amino acids Valine, Alanine, Histidine, Serine, and Lysine.
The genetic code is universal, meaning that the same codon encodes the same amino acid across all living organisms. It is unambiguous, meaning that each codon specifies only one amino acid. However, it is redundant, as multiple codons can encode the same amino acid.