While there is much commonality, different parts of the tree of life use slightly different

genetic code The genetic code is the set of rules used by living cells to translate information encoded within genetic material ( DNA or RNA sequences of nucleotide triplets, or codons) into proteins. Translation is accomplished by the ribosome, which links ...

s. When translating from genome to protein, the use of the correct genetic code is essential. The mitochondrial codes are the relatively well-known examples of variation. The list below follows the numbering and designation by NCBI. * Translation table 1: The

standard code The genetic code is the set of rules used by living cells to translate information encoded within genetic material ( DNA or RNA sequences of nucleotide triplets, or codons) into proteins. Translation is accomplished by the ribosome, which links p ...

* Translation table 2: The vertebrate mitochondrial code * Translation table 3: The yeast mitochondrial code * Translation table 4: The mold, protozoan, and coelenterate mitochondrial code and the mycoplasma/spiroplasma code * Translation table 5: The

invertebrate mitochondrial code The invertebrate mitochondrial code (translation table 5) is a genetic code used by the mitochondrial genome of invertebrates. The code : AAs = FFLLSSSSYY**CCWWLLLLPPPPHHQQRRRRIIMMTTTTNNKKSSSSVVVVAAAADDEEGGGG : Starts = ---M-- ...

* Translation table 6: The ciliate, dasycladacean and hexamita nuclear code * Translation table 7: The kinetoplast code; ''cf''. table 4. * Translation table 8: ''cf''. table 1. * Translation table 9: The

echinoderm and flatworm mitochondrial code The echinoderm and flatworm mitochondrial code (translation table 9) is a genetic code used by the mitochondria of certain echinoderm and flatworm species. The code : AAs = FFLLSSSSYY**CCWWLLLLPPPPHHQQRRRRIIIMTTTTNNNKSSSSVVVVAA ...

* Translation table 10: The

euplotid nuclear code The euplotid nuclear code (translation table 10) is the genetic code used by Euplotidae. The euplotid code is a socalled "symmetrical code", which results from the symmetrical distribution of the codons. This symmetry allows for arythmic explorat ...

* Translation table 11: The

bacterial, archaeal and plant plastid code The bacterial, archaeal and plant plastid code (translation table 11) is the DNA code used by bacteria, archaea, prokaryotic viruses and chloroplast proteins. It is essentially the same as the standard code, however there are some variations in ...

* Translation table 12: The

alternative yeast nuclear code The alternative yeast nuclear code (translation table 12) is a genetic code found in certain yeasts. However, other yeast, including ''Saccharomyces cerevisiae'', '' Candida azyma'', '' Candida diversa'', '' Candida magnoliae'', '' Candida rugopel ...

* Translation table 13: The

ascidian mitochondrial code The ascidian mitochondrial code (translation table 13) is a genetic code found in the mitochondria of Ascidia. Code : AAs = FFLLSSSSYY**CCWWLLLLPPPPHHQQRRRRIIMMTTTTNNKKSSGGVVVVAAAADDEEGGGG : Starts = ---M---------------------- ...

* Translation table 14: The alternative flatworm mitochondrial code * Translation table 15: The ''Blepharisma'' nuclear code * Translation table 16: The

chlorophycean mitochondrial code The chlorophycean mitochondrial code (translation table 16) is a genetic code found in the mitochondria of ''Chlorophyceae''. Code : AAs = FFLLSSSSYY*LCC*WLLLLPPPPHHQQRRRRIIIMTTTTNNKKSSRRVVVVAAAADDEEGGGG : Starts = ----------- ...

* Translation table 21: The trematode mitochondrial code * Translation table 22: The ''Scenedesmus obliquus'' mitochondrial code * Translation table 23: The ''Thraustochytrium'' mitochondrial code * Translation table 24: The

Pterobranchia mitochondrial code The pterobranchia mitochondrial code (translation table 24) is a genetic code used by the mitochondrial genome of ''Rhabdopleura compacta'' (Pterobranchia). The Pterobranchia are one of the two groups in the Hemichordata which together with the ...

* Translation table 25: The

candidate division SR1 and gracilibacteria code The candidate division SR1 and gracilibacteria code (translation table 25) is used in two groups of (so far) uncultivated bacteria found in marine and fresh-water environments and in the intestines and oral cavities of mammals among others. The ...

* Translation table 26: The ''Pachysolen tannophilus'' nuclear code * Translation table 27: The

karyorelict nuclear code The karyorelictid nuclear code (translation table 27) is a genetic code used by the nuclear genome of the Karyorelictea ciliate '' Parduczia'' sp. The code (27) : AAs = FFLLSSSSYYQQCCWWLLLAPPPPHHQQRRRRIIIMTTTTNNKKSSRRVVVVAAAA ...

* Translation table 28: The ''Condylostoma'' nuclear code * Translation table 29: The ''Mesodinium'' nuclear code * Translation table 30: The Peritrich nuclear code * Translation table 31: The ''Blastocrithidia'' nuclear code * Translation table 32: The Balanophoraceae plastid code * Translation table 33: The Cephalodiscidae mitochondrial code The alternative translation tables (2 to 33) involve codon reassignments that are recapitulated in the list of all known alternative codons.

Table summary

Comparison of alternative translation tables for all codons (using IUPAC amino acid codes):

Notes

Three translation tables have a peculiar status: * Table 7 is now merged into translation table 4. * Table 8 is merged to table 1; all plant chloroplast differences due to RNA edit. * Table 15 is deleted in the source but included here for completeness. Other mechanisms also play a part in

protein biosynthesis Protein biosynthesis (or protein synthesis) is a core biological process, occurring inside cells, balancing the loss of cellular proteins (via degradation or export) through the production of new proteins. Proteins perform a number of critical ...

, such as

post-transcriptional modification Transcriptional modification or co-transcriptional modification is a set of biological processes common to most eukaryotic cells by which an RNA primary transcript is chemically altered following transcription from a gene to produce a mature, f ...

References

External links

NCBI List of Alternative Codes

Table summary

Notes

References

See also

External links

Further reading