A generalized genetic code
It is argued that the Genetic code is a relation rather than a mapping, and a generalized genetic code is tentatively proposed, and this view is shown to be supported by the symmetry analysis.
Abstract
The symmetry of codon degeneracies in the standard genetic code is analyzed from an empirical standpoint. It is argued that the genetic code is a relation rather than a mapping, and a generalized genetic code is tentatively proposed. This view of the genetic code is shown to be supported by the symmetry analysis. The primary results are ( I ) a new elucidation of the basic symmetry inherent in the standard genetic code, (2) the elaboration of necessary conditions for codon degeneracy, and (3) the unification of the symmetry or ambiguous codon assignments with that of the standard genetic code. The centrality of the concept of a biological context to ambiguity and to the generalized genetic code is discussed.