Biology Student
EQ: If there are only four nucleotide types in DNA, why are
all living things so different?
Genetic Code of Life
Amino Acid Codon Chart
Target
4. Using descriptions or diagrams of protein synthesis, be able to
use the Codon Chart to determine the corresponding amino acid
Enduring Understanding
Proteins determine the structure and function of living things.
Broad Brush Knowledge
mutations, protein synthesis
Concepts Important to Know and Understand
DNA Processes
Core Objectives
5. Identify the structure & function of nucleic acids including their
role in biodiversity.
There are two Genetic Code of Life / Amino Acid Codon Charts in this document. One has the clue of 1st
Base, 2nd Base and 3rd Base on the chart. The other does not clue the students as to which base is found
in which area of the chart.
Identifying the base is helpful in the beginning but students need to be able to use the chart without base
indication eventually.
What is the Genetic Code of Life
The amino acid codon chart is often referred to as the Genetic Code of Life. A unifying feature of life is that
cells almost always use the same genetic language to turn DNA codes into RNA, then proteins. This is
because the triplet codons that represent certain amino acids are the same in most organisms. In a
bacterium, a bean or a dolphin, the same three letters of RNA stand for the same amino acid. UCA, for
example, codes for serine.
While true for most organisms, as genome projects spread to different species, scientists have found some
exceptions. Most of these exceptions occur in the mitochondria of round worms and arthropods.
GENETIC CODE OF LIFE - Biology (Revised June 25, 2008)
(printed 2/15/2016) p. 1
GENETIC CODE OF LIFE
mRNA Codon and Corresponding Amino Acid Chart
2nd Base in Codon
C
A
G
C
A
G
Phenylalanine
Serine
Tyrosine
Cysteine
U
Phenylalanine
Serine
Tyrosine
Cysteine
C
Leucine
Serine
Stop Codon
Stop Codon
A
Leucine
Serine
Stop Codon
Tryptophan
G
Leucine
Proline
Histidine
Arginine
U
Leucine
Proline
Histidine
Arginine
C
Leucine
Proline
Glutamine
Arginine
A
Leucine
Proline
Glutamine
Arginine
G
lsoleucine
Threonine
Asparagine
Serine
U
lsoleucine
Threonine
Asparagine
Serine
C
lsoleucine
Threonine
Lysine
Arginine
A
Methionine
Threonine
Lysine
Arginine
G
Valine
Alanine
Aspartic Acid
Glycine
U
Valine
Alanine
Aspartic Acid
Glycine
C
Valine
Alanine
Glutamic Acid
Glycine
A
Valine
Alanine
Glutamic Acid
Glycine
G
GENETIC CODE OF LIFE - Biology (Revised June 25, 2008)
3rd Base In Codon
1st Base in Codon
U
U
(printed 2/15/2016) p. 2
GENETIC CODE OF LIFE
mRNA Codon and Corresponding Amino Acid Chart
U
C
A
G
U
C
A
G
Phenylalanine
Serine
Tyrosine
Cysteine
U
Phenylalanine
Serine
Tyrosine
Cysteine
C
Leucine
Serine
Stop Codon
Stop Codon
A
Leucine
Serine
Stop Codon
Tryptophan
G
Leucine
Proline
Histidine
Arginine
U
Leucine
Proline
Histidine
Arginine
C
Leucine
Proline
Glutamine
Arginine
Leucine
Proline
Glutamine
Arginine
A
G
lsoleucine
Threonine
Asparagine
Serine
U
lsoleucine
Threonine
Asparagine
Serine
lsoleucine
Threonine
Lysine
Arginine
C
A
Methionine
Threonine
Lysine
Arginine
G
Valine
Alanine
Aspartic Acid
Glycine
U
Valine
Alanine
Aspartic Acid
Glycine
C
Valine
Alanine
Glutamic Acid
Glycine
A
Valine
Alanine
Glutamic Acid
Glycine
G
GENETIC CODE OF LIFE - Biology (Revised June 25, 2008)
(printed 2/15/2016) p. 3