Question

1. Name the scientist who suggested that the genetic code should be made of a combination of three nucleotides.
2. Explain the basis on which he arrived at this conclusion.

Name the scientist who suggested that the genetic code should be made of a combination of three nucleotides. Explain the basis on which he arrived at this conclusion.

Answer 1

1. George Gamow suggested that the genetic code should be made up of a combination of three nucleotides.
2. He proposed that if 20 amino acids are to be coded by 4 bases, then the code should be made up of three nucleotides. 4³ = 64 (4² = 16), which is less than 20. So, the codon was proposed to be a triplet.