Page 234 - Biochemistry PharmD General

The Genetic Code Is
Resistant to Mutations

• Degenerate code allows certain mutations to still code
for the same amino acid.
– “silent” mutations―different nucleotide in DNA but
same amino acid in protein

• Mutation in the first base of a codon usually produces
a conservative substitution.
– Example: GUU → Val but AUU →Leu

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