What are the characteristic properties of the genetic code?

Non-overlapping: The genetic code is read in triplets of bases, called codons, each of which codes for an amino acid.Degenerate: Each amino acid can be coded for by more than one base triplet.Non-ambiguous: Each codon always codes for the same amino acid.Universal: Each base triplet codes for the same amino acid in all organisms.Polar: The genetic code is always read in the 5' to 3' direction.Highly Preserved: The genetic code is very stable and rarely undergoes changes across generations.

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