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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
One of the central issues is that HIV is a shapeshifter: The virus’s genetic code mutates at the highest rate known to science.
—Annalisa Merelli and Jonathan Wosen, STAT, 17 May 2024
AlphaFold 3 can model large molecules such as DNA and RNA, which carry genetic code, but also much smaller entities, including metal ions.
—Will Knight, WIRED, 8 May 2024
During a briefing for reporters Wednesday, Vivien Dugan, director of the influenza division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said dairy worker vaccination might begin if any worrisome new worrisome changes are detected about the virus, such as changes in its genetic code.
—Rob Stein, NPR, 3 May 2024
Now, scientists have traced our tail loss to a short sequence of genetic code that is abundant in our genome but had been dismissed for decades as junk DNA, a sequence that seemingly serves no biological purpose.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for genetic code
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'genetic code.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1958, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near genetic code
Cite this Entry
“Genetic code.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/genetic%20code. Accessed 10 Jun. 2024.
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
More from Merriam-Webster on genetic code
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about genetic code
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