genetic code

noun

: the biochemical basis of heredity consisting of codons in DNA and RNA that determine the specific amino acid sequence in proteins and appear to be uniform for nearly all known forms of life

Examples of genetic code in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Essentially, this means that while 36% of the H5N1 genetic code has diverged, or mutated, two thirds has not – which implies this unchanged genetic coding is serving an important function. New Atlas, 24 Feb. 2025 The news comes on the heels of a U.S. Department of Agriculture report that examined the D1.1 strain found in the Nevada dairy cows and found changes in the genetic code thought to help the virus copy itself more easily in mammals, including humans. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2025 The team also detected adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine and uracil — all five of the biological nucleobases, or components that make up the genetic code in DNA and RNA. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 29 Jan. 2025 Scientists may now want to yell the same thing — but about how our existing genetic code came to be, according to a study in PNAS. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for genetic code

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of genetic code was in 1958

Cite this Entry

“Genetic code.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/genetic%20code. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

genetic code

noun
: the chemical code that is the basis of genetic inheritance and consists of units of three linked chemical groups which specify particular kinds of amino acids used to make proteins or which start or stop the process of making proteins

Medical Definition

genetic code

noun
: the biochemical basis of heredity consisting of codons in DNA and RNA that determine the specific amino acid sequence in proteins and that appear to be uniform for all known forms of life
genetic coding noun

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