genetic code: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2-C1Semi-technical, common in academic, scientific, and general educated discourse; formal.
Quick answer
What does “genetic code” mean?
The set of rules by which information encoded in genetic material (DNA or RNA sequences) is translated into proteins (amino acid sequences) by living cells.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The set of rules by which information encoded in genetic material (DNA or RNA sequences) is translated into proteins (amino acid sequences) by living cells.
The fundamental molecular mechanism of heredity. Figuratively, used to denote the basic, defining, or foundational set of instructions or characteristics of any system or organization.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Spelling is identical. Figurative usage is slightly more common in US media/corporate contexts.
Connotations
Identical scientific meaning. In figurative use, UK English may slightly favour biological metaphors, while US English applies it more broadly to technology and business.
Frequency
Equally frequent in scientific contexts. Figurative use is marginally higher in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “genetic code” in a Sentence
VERB + the genetic code (crack, decipher)ADJ + genetic code (universal, mitochondrial, bacterial)the genetic code + VERB (specifies, determines, encodes)the genetic code + of + NOUN (of life, of a virus, of an organism)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “genetic code” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The project aims to **genetically code** for disease resistance in crops.
- These sequences **genetically code** the protein's structure.
American English
- Scientists are learning how to **genetically code** new functions into bacteria.
- The virus **genetically codes** its replication machinery.
adverb
British English
- The trait is **genetically coded** and heritable.
- The information is **genetically coded** in the nucleus.
American English
- This behaviour is not **genetically coded**; it's learned.
- The instructions are **genetically coded** from birth.
adjective
British English
- This is a **genetic-coding** region of the chromosome.
- They studied the **genetic-code** mechanism in detail.
American English
- We identified a **genetic-coding** error in the sample.
- The **genetic-code** table is a foundational tool in biology.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically for a company's core culture or operational DNA. 'Innovation is part of our company's genetic code.'
Academic
Central concept in biology, biochemistry, and genetics. 'The lecture covered the universality and degeneracy of the genetic code.'
Everyday
Used to explain hereditary traits or metaphorically for ingrained habits. 'His love for music seems to be in his genetic code.'
Technical
Precise reference to the mapping of 64 codons to 20 amino acids and stop signals. 'Researchers identified a novel tRNA that expands the standard genetic code.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “genetic code”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “genetic code”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “genetic code”
- Using 'genetic code' to mean just 'DNA' or 'genes' (it's the rules, not the molecule).
- Omitting the definite article 'the' in scientific contexts (e.g., 'Scientists study genetic code' is less idiomatic than '...the genetic code').
- Using plural 'genetic codes' inappropriately when referring to the universal system.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is nearly universal. The same codons specify the same amino acids in almost all organisms, from bacteria to humans, which is strong evidence for common ancestry. Minor variations exist in some mitochondria and certain microorganisms.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the physical molecule that carries genetic information. The 'genetic code' is the set of rules that cells use to translate the sequence of nucleotides in DNA (or RNA) into the sequence of amino acids in a protein.
The standard genetic code is fixed for an organism. However, scientists use genetic engineering to alter DNA sequences, which changes the 'message' written using the code. They are also engineering organisms to use slightly altered codes, creating 'synthetic biology'.
Because it involves translating information from one form (a 4-letter nucleotide alphabet) into another (a 20-letter amino acid alphabet), similar to deciphering a cipher or decoding a secret message. This metaphor was central to early molecular biology.
The set of rules by which information encoded in genetic material (DNA or RNA sequences) is translated into proteins (amino acid sequences) by living cells.
Genetic code is usually semi-technical, common in academic, scientific, and general educated discourse; formal. in register.
Genetic code: in British English it is pronounced /dʒəˌnet.ɪk ˈkəʊd/, and in American English it is pronounced /dʒəˌnet̬.ɪk ˈkoʊd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “crack the genetic code”
- “written in the genetic code”
- “hardwired in the genetic code”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of DNA as a book written in a 4-letter alphabet (A,T,C,G). The 'genetic code' is the dictionary that translates every 3-letter 'word' (codon) into a specific building block (amino acid) for making a protein.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE/SCRIPT (code, translation, alphabet, letters, reading, deciphering), BLUEPRINT/INSTRUCTIONS (blueprint, recipe, program, information, plan).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'cracking the genetic code' metaphorically imply in a business context?