In the Morse code, a series of dots and dashes code for letters of the alphabet. How is this analogous to the genetic code?
A) There is complementarity in the genetic code (A is complementary to T, and C is complementary to G).
B) The bases that make up DNA are coded by the sugar-phosphate backbone.
C) The machinery involved in DNA synthesis is analogous to the telegraph equipment used in sending Morse code.
D) The bases of DNA code for the more complex amino acid sequence of the proteins in cells.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Just as the dots and dashes in Morse code represent letters of the alphabet, the sequence of nucleotides in DNA encodes for the sequence of amino acids in proteins. The genetic code is a set of rules that relate the sequence of nucleotides in DNA to the sequence of amino acids in a protein. This process is similar to the way that Morse code represents letters of the alphabet. The process by which DNA is synthesized, while important, is not directly analogous to the sending of Morse code, so choices B and C can be eliminated. Complementarity exists between the base pairs in DNA, but this is not directly analogous to the way that Morse code represents letters of the alphabet, so choice A can also be eliminated.

In the Morse Code, a Series of Dots and Dashes