Genetic Codes

How to look up a genetic code

1. Choose a genetic code from the list.
2. The codon table shows each codon with its amino acid. Codons that differ from the standard code are marked with *.
3. The differences are listed below the table.

Frequently asked questions

Where do these codes come from?

They are the translation tables used by NCBI, numbered the same way, so table 2 is vertebrate mitochondrial and table 11 is bacterial, archaeal and plant plastid.

Which code do bacteria use?

Table 11, bacterial, archaeal and plant plastid. Every codon codes for the same amino acid as in the standard code; the two differ only in which codons can start translation.

Which code does human mitochondrial DNA use?

Table 2, vertebrate mitochondrial: AGA and AGG are stops, ATA codes for methionine and TGA for tryptophan.