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Genetic Code is Non Overlapping -

Since the DNA molecule is a long chain of nucleotides, it could be read either in an overlapping or non overlapping manner.

The genetic code could thus be overlapping or non overlapping. The reading of the code by these two different ways would yield different results.

In the non overlapping code six nucleotides would code for two amino acids, while in the overlapping code up to four could be coded.

Overlapping code: Studies on gene mutations show that the code is of the non overlapping type.

In the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) mutation of one base of the nucleic acid into another results in the alteration of only a single amino acid.

Similarly, studies on normal and sickle cell haemoglobins show that a single mutational change results in the substitution of only one amino acid.