The genetic code consists of sequences of nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA and RNA. Each nucleotide is made up of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. There are four types of nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G) in DNA, while RNA contains uracil (U) instead of thymine.
To code for a single amino acid, the genetic code uses a set of three nucleotides, known as a codon. Therefore, it takes three bases to code for one amino acid. Each combination of three bases corresponds to a specific amino acid or a stop signal during protein synthesis.
This is why understanding codons is crucial in molecular biology, as they dictate the production of proteins, which perform virtually all functions within living organisms. With the entire set of 64 possible codons (which includes start and stop signals), the system ensures that the genetic information is translated adequately to produce the necessary proteins for life.