How is genetic information coded in DNA?

Genetic information is coded in DNA through sequences of four types of nitrogen bases: adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine.

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule that carries the genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses. It is composed of two strands that twist around each other to form a double helix. Each strand is made up of a sugar-phosphate backbone and a sequence of nitrogen bases. The order of these bases is what codes the genetic information.

The four types of nitrogen bases are adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). These bases pair up with each other to form base pairs, with adenine always pairing with thymine, and cytosine always pairing with guanine. The sequence of these base pairs is what forms the genetic code. For example, the sequence ATCG would code for a different set of genetic information than the sequence CGTA.

This genetic code is read in groups of three bases at a time, known as codons. Each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid, which are the building blocks of proteins. The sequence of codons therefore determines the sequence of amino acids in a protein, which in turn determines the structure and function of that protein.

In summary, the genetic information is coded in DNA through the specific sequence of nitrogen bases. This sequence is read in groups of three, with each group coding for a specific amino acid in a protein. The sequence of these amino acids then determines the structure and function of the protein, and thus the traits of the organism.