Final answer:
The genetic information in all living organisms, including animals and plants, is stored in the sequence of nucleotides that are arranged into codons, with each three-nucleotide codon corresponding to a specific amino acid in protein synthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
In animals, as in plants, the genetic code is encoded in the order of nucleotides. The genetic code is the sequence of nitrogenous bases of nucleotides in DNA and RNA that determines the specific amino acid sequence in the synthesis of proteins. These bases are adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T) in DNA, or uracil (U) in RNA, organized into three-letter words known as codons. DNA is made up of nucleotides, which are chemical building blocks composed of four different bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T).
The sequence of these nucleotides forms the genetic code that determines the order of amino acids in proteins. Each codon specifies a single amino acid, contributing to the formation of proteins in a process known as translation. With a total of 64 possible codons composed of the four different nucleotides, the genetic code is able to encode for the 20 common amino acids necessary for protein synthesis. This universal code is shared by virtually all living organisms, highlighting the fundamental continuity of life.