The set of rules used by living cells to translate information encoded within genetic material into proteins is called

• A. What is a genetic code
• B. DNA
• C. RNA
• D. Protein synthesis

Answer: (A)

The genetic code is the set of rules that translate the information in genes into proteins. It defines which amino acid will be added next during protein synthesis based on each three-nucleotide codon in messenger RNA. This code is read by the ribosome with the help of transfer RNA, bringing the correct amino acids in sequence to form a polypeptide. It’s nearly universal across organisms and includes start and stop signals that mark the beginning and end of a protein.

DNA is the genetic material that stores the information, RNA is the intermediary that carries that information to the ribosome, and protein synthesis is the process of building the protein itself. But the phrase “set of rules used to translate information into proteins” specifically refers to the genetic code.