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

Instead of growing a virus and weakening it to allow the body to engage its natural defenses, mRNA vaccines use pieces of genetic code to manufacture a protein, a piece of the virus. —Joey Garrison, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025

Researchers commonly use fruit flies for medical research because the insects have remarkably similar genetic codes to humans, though smaller and more basic. —Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 30 Aug. 2025

The researchers say the next challenge is understanding how RNA could begin binding specific amino acids consistently, laying the foundation for the genetic code. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2025

Phantom Bursts Jordan Douglas, an evolutionary biologist at the Australian National University in Canberra, is fascinated by the origins of the genetic code. —Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for genetic code

• photocathode
• photodiode
• abode
• anode
• barcode
• bestowed
• boatload
• borrowed
• carload
• caseload
• cathode
• commode

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