Tool to translate/convert DNA/RNA/mRNA/tRNA codons. A codon is a group of 3 nucleotides A, C, G, T, U. Codons are extracted from RNA or DNA (genetic code).
Codons (Genetic Code) - dCode
Tag(s) : Notation System, Biology
dCode is free and its tools are a valuable help in games, maths, geocaching, puzzles and problems to solve every day!
A suggestion ? a feedback ? a bug ? an idea ? Write to dCode!
Codons (Genetic Code)
Codons Translation/Converter
Codons Encoder
Codons/Anticodons Transcription
Answers to Questions (FAQ)
What is a codon? (Definition)
A codon is a sequence of 3 molecules/nucleotides describing an amino acid in the sequencing of DNA or messenger RNA (mRNA) or transfert (tRNA). Each nucleotide is described by a letter (among A, C, G, T, U) and the codon can therefore be described by a triplet of 3 letters, but also by the name of the amino acid.
The letters A, T, C, G, U from nitrogenous bases mean respectively Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, Guanine and Uracil.
How to encrypt using the codon table?
Encryption the table of codons and transforms RNA codons into their amino acid codes according to official abbreviations IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) and IUBMB (Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology).
| Code | DNA | RNA |
|---|---|---|
| A | GCT, GCC, GCA, GCG | GCU, GCC, GCA, GCG |
| B | AAT, AAC, GAT, GAC | AAU, AAC, GAU, GAC |
| C | TGT, TGC | UGU, UGC |
| D | GAT, GAC | GAU, GAC |
| E | GAA, GAG | GAA, GAG |
| F | TTT, TTC | UUU, UUC |
| G | GGT, GGC, GGA, GGG | GGU, GGC, GGA, GGG |
| H | CAT, CAC | CAU, CAC |
| I | ATT, ATC, ATA | AUU, AUC, AUA |
| J | ||
| K | AAA, AAG | AAA, AAG |
| L | TTA, TTG, CTT, CTC, CTA, CTG | UUA, UUG, CUU, CUC, CUA, CUG |
| M | ATG | AUG |
| N | AAT, AAC | AAU, AAC |
| O | ||
| P | CCT, CCC, CCA, CCG | CCU, CCC, CCA, CCG |
| Q | CAA, CAG | CAA, CAG |
| R | CGT, CGC, CGA, CGG, AGA, AGG | CGU, CGC, CGA, CGG, AGA, AGG |
| S | TCT, TCC, TCA, TCG, AGT, AGC | UCU, UCC, UCA, UCG, AGU, AGC |
| T | ACT, ACC, ACA, ACG | ACU, ACC, ACA, ACG |
| U | ||
| V | GTT, GTC, GTA, GTG | GUU, GUC, GUA, GUG |
| W | TGG | UGG |
| X | ||
| Y | TAT, TAC | UAU, UAC |
| Z | CAA, CAG, GAA, GAG | CAA, CAG, GAA, GAG |
| * | TAA | UAA |
There are 22 amino acids, it is then possible to encode only 22 letters. There is a special codon, the stop codon which is encoded by an asterisk *.
Example: DNA peut s'écrire CTG TTA CGG
Some codons describe 2 different amino acids
| Codons | Possible letters |
|---|---|
| AAT,AAC,AAU | B,N |
| CAA,CAG | Q,Z |
| GAC,GAT,GAU | D,B |
| GAA,GAG | E,Z |
How to recognize a codon based ciphertext?
The message is composed of letters A, C, G, T and U, often by group of 3, and is supposed to represent a DNA (or RNA) sequence.
The letters A, C, G, T are used by DNA while the letters A, C, G, U are for RNA (including mRNA and tRNA).
The biological concepts of chromosome, genome, clone/cloning, mutation, evolution are clues.
CRISPR technology allows codons to be modified.
The name of the movie Gattaca is composed of the letters of DNA.
What are the names of amino acids?
The list of amino acids is
| A | Alanine | Ala |
| C | Cysteine | Cys |
| D | Aspartic acid | Asp |
| E | Glutamic acid | Glu |
| F | Phenylalanine | Phe |
| G | Glycine | Gly |
| H | Histidine | His |
| I | Isoleucine | Ile |
| K | Lysine | Lys |
| L | Leucine | Leu |
| M | Methionine | Met |
| N | Asparagine | Asn |
| P | Proline | Pro |
| Q | Glutamine | Gln |
| R | Arginine | Arg |
| S | Serine | Ser |
| T | Threonine | Thr |
| V | Valine | Val |
| W | Tryptophan | Trp |
| Y | Tyrosine | Tyr |
What does DNA and RNA mean?
DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid and RNA stands for RiboNucleic Acid, they are among the most important molecules of living beings biology because they contain hereditary genetic information.
Abbreviation mRNA means messenger RNA.
Abbreviation tRNA means transfer RNA.
What is an anticodon?
The processes of transcription or the replication of codons, use the complementarity of nitrogenous bases which form codon-anticodon pairs: A-T (for DNA), AU (for RNA), C-G, G-C, T-A, U-A.
What are nucleotide masses?
Nucleotides have a molar mass of
| C (cytosine) | 111 |
| U (uracil) | 112 |
| T (thymine) | 126 |
| A (adenine) | 135 |
| G (guanine) | 151 |
What are nucleotide densities?
Nucleotides have a density of
| T | 1.23 |
| U | 1.32 |
| C | 1.55 |
| A | 1.60 |
| G | 2.20 |
How to recognize a codon ciphertext?
The codons are made up of 4 distinct characters A, C, G, T or A, C, G, U.
References to the genetic code (DNA, RNA, experiments etc.) or more generally to biology (proteins, double helix) are clues.
Source code
dCode retains ownership of the "Codons (Genetic Code)" source code. Any algorithm for the "Codons (Genetic Code)" algorithm, applet or snippet or script (converter, solver, encryption / decryption, encoding / decoding, ciphering / deciphering, breaker, translator), or any "Codons (Genetic Code)" functions (calculate, convert, solve, decrypt / encrypt, decipher / cipher, decode / encode, translate) written in any informatic language (Python, Java, PHP, C#, Javascript, Matlab, etc.) or any database download or API access for "Codons (Genetic Code)" or any other element are not public (except explicit open source licence). Same with the download for offline use on PC, mobile, tablet, iPhone or Android app.
Reminder: dCode is an educational and teaching resource, accessible online for free and for everyone.
Cite dCode
The content of the page "Codons (Genetic Code)" and its results may be freely copied and reused, including for commercial purposes, provided that dCode.fr is cited as the source (Creative Commons CC-BY free distribution license).
Exporting the results is free and can be done simply by clicking on the export icons ⤓ (.csv or .txt format) or ⧉ (copy and paste).
To cite dCode.fr on another website, use the link:
In a scientific article or book, the recommended bibliographic citation is: Codons (Genetic Code) on dCode.fr [online website], retrieved on 2025-07-12,
- Codons Translation/Converter
- Codons Encoder
- Codons/Anticodons Transcription
- What is a codon? (Definition)
- How to encrypt using the codon table?
- How to recognize a codon based ciphertext?
- What are the names of amino acids?
- What does DNA codons (A,C,G,T triples) and RNA/mRNA codons (A,C,G,U triples) mean?
- What is an anticodon?
- What are nucleotide masses?
- What are nucleotide densities?
- How to recognize a codon ciphertext?
