Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Symmetries of genetic code-doublets

  • Letter to the Editor
  • Published:
Journal of Molecular Evolution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The fact that 64 base triplets code only about 20 essential amino acids implies a strong degeneracy of certain base doublets. It is shown that the set of degenerate base doublets and the set of non degenerate base doublets are highly structured. A mathematical formalism is introduced which allows a systematic description of the consequences of an exchange of bases in a doublet. By this formalism it is shown that the two mentioned sets have in fact the same structure.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Nirenberg,M.W., Matthaei,J.H. (1961). Proc.N.A.S. 47, 1588 Ochoa,S. (1962). In: Horizons in biochemistry, M.Kasha, B.Pullman eds. New York: Academic Press Nishimura,S., Jones,S.D., Khorana,H.G. (1965). J.Mol.Biol.13, 302

    Google Scholar 

  2. Crick,F.H.C. (1966). Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology 31, 1

    Google Scholar 

  3. Woese,C.R., Dugre,D.H., Dugre,S.A., Kondo,M., Saxinger,W.C. (1966). Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology 31, 723

    Google Scholar 

  4. Roberts,R.B. (1962). Proc.N.A.S.48, 1245

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. H. -J. Danckwerts

    Present address: Abt.für Biomedizinische Technik, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fachbereich Chemie, der Universität Regensburg, Germany

    H. -J. Danckwerts

  2. Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Institut Berlin, Abbstr.2-12, D-1000, Berlin 10, Germany

    D. Neubert

Authors
  1. H. -J. Danckwerts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. Neubert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Danckwerts, H.J., Neubert, D. Symmetries of genetic code-doublets. J Mol Evol 5, 327–332 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01732219

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01732219

Key words

Search

Navigation