Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Does the genetic code vary from one species to another?

could a gene from a spider be read by the protein-making apparatus of a tomato plant if a spider gene was substituted for a tomato gene?

Does the genetic code vary from one species to another?
No, the genetic code does not vary. Yes, you can transplant a spider gene into a tomato plant and give it the ability to create a certain protein (or vice versa). It would most likely be deadly or useless, to the plant, or depending on *where* in the tomato plant DNA you inserted it, it might or might not be activated ... but DNA is DNA, and if executed during protein synthesis, it can create that protein.
Reply:No (edited) ... a famous example is taking the GFP (Green Flourescent Protien) from a jellyfish that glows green and putting it in mice that actually glow green like the jellyfish.



I originally typed yes because I had a brain fart I meant no...thanks for the correction Ashley M.
Reply:No, the genetic code does not vary. The first answer you got was correct except for the yes. The genes work in both organisms because they do not vary.



The code for amino acids is universal in all organisms, which is why you could transfer a gene and get the same effect.
Reply:yes, all protein reading mechanisms are capable of reading the sequence of adenine thymine cytosine and guanine
Reply:Yeah. The whole area of genetic engineering shows that genes from one organism can be read and expressed by another. So, you can have bacteria expressing animal genes, animals expressing plant genes...



Bottom line, the genetic code is fundamentally universal.


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