Famous quote by Francis Crick

"It now seems very likely that many of the 64 triplets, possibly most of them, may code one amino acid or another, and that in general several distinct triplets may code one amino acid"

About this Quote

The quote by Francis Crick represents a turning point in the understanding of the genetic code, stressing the redundancy and specificity of how genetic details is translated into proteins. This declaration highlights two essential ideas: the redundancy within the hereditary code and the relationship in between nucleotide triplets (codons) in DNA or mRNA and amino acids.

First of all, Crick points out the possibility that each of the 64 possible triplets, which are combinations of the 4 nucleotides (adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine in DNA, with uracil replacing thymine in RNA), contributes in coding for an amino acid. At the time, this was an innovative concept since it suggested a structured yet versatile hereditary system where almost every triplet has a purpose, fine-tuning the understanding of how genetic directions are encoded. The statement hints at the comprehensiveness of the hereditary code, asserting that it is a well-organized system where triplets have actually specified roles.

Secondly, and possibly more strikingly, Crick highlights the redundancy of the hereditary code by keeping in mind that "a number of unique triplets might code one amino acid". This reflects the concept of "codon degeneracy" or redundancy. In molecular biology, it is well understood today that several codons can code for the very same amino acid. This adaptability contributes to the effectiveness of genetic translation, allowing for minor mutations in the DNA sequence that do not always cause modifications in the protein structure, thereby lowering the prospective impact of such anomalies.

Crick's insight laid the groundwork for our contemporary understanding of hereditary translation. It underscores not just the efficiency and resilience of the hereditary coding system however likewise led the way for developments in genetic engineering, enabling researchers to manipulate genetic sequences with accuracy. Hence, this reflection shows fundamental understanding in molecular biology, pointing to an advanced system where genetic info is thoroughly arranged and expressed.

About the Author

This quote is written / told by Francis Crick between June 8, 1916 and July 28, 2004. He/she was a famous Scientist from England. The author also have 21 other quotes.
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Francis Crick, Scientist

"Unfortunately it makes the unambiguous determination of triplets by these methods much more difficult than would be the case if there were only one triplet for each amino acid"

Francis Crick, Scientist

"A comparison between the triplets tentatively deduced by these methods with the changes in amino acid sequence produced by mutation shows a fair measure of agreement"

Francis Crick, Scientist

"The balance of evidence both from the cell-free system and from the study of mutation, suggests that this does not occur at random, and that triplets coding the same amino acid may well be rather similar"

Francis Crick, Scientist

"It has yet to be shown by direct biochemical methods, as opposed to the indirect genetic evidence mentioned earlier, that the code is indeed a triplet code"

Francis Crick, Scientist

"It would appear that the number of nonsense triplets is rather low, since we only occasionally come across them. However this conclusion is less secure than our other deductions about the general nature of the genetic code"

Francis Crick, Scientist

"Attempts have been made from a study of the changes produced by mutation to obtain the relative order of the bases within various triplets, but my own view is that these are premature until there is more extensive and more reliable data on the composition of the triplets"