Final answer:
The genetic code is degenerate, meaning that each amino acid can be encoded by more than one nucleotide triplet. It is also universal, being the same in all organisms. Additionally, the genetic code is unambiguous, with each codon typically coding for a specific amino acid.
Step-by-step explanation:
The genetic code is degenerate, which means that each amino acid can be encoded by more than one nucleotide triplet. For example, the amino acid threonine can be encoded by the codons ACU, ACC, ACA, and ACG. This redundancy helps prevent errors in protein synthesis, as a single-nucleotide substitution mutation might still specify the same or a similar amino acid. Additionally, the genetic code is universal, meaning it is the same in all organisms, and each codon typically codes for a specific amino acid, making it unambiguous.