Deciphering the Genetic Code: A Breakthrough in Genetics

In the 1960s

In the 1960s, scientists cracked the genetic code and discovered the internal operations of how DNA produces protein. This monumental breakthrough represented a key achievement in the field of genetics, advancing our understanding of the fundamental processes governing life at a molecular level.

Key Achievement in Genetics

The key achievement of cracking the genetic code in the 1960s was:

Final answer:

The 1960s breakthrough of cracking the genetic code refers to deciphering the genetic code and understanding its role in protein formation. It involves the transcription of DNA into mRNA and then translation of mRNA into proteins, a universal and degenerate process known as the central dogma of biology.

Explanation:

In the field of genetics, the 1960s breakthrough of cracking the genetic code and understanding how DNA produces protein is best represented by deciphering the genetic code and its role in protein formation. This pivotal breakthrough, which falls under the realm of the central dogma of biology, unveiled the intricate process of how DNA's genetic information is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA) and ultimately translated into a protein by ribosomes (protein manufacturing machinery of the cell).

During this process, mRNA acts as an intermediary, carrying the information copied from DNA for specific protein synthesis. In this transcription process, one nucleotide gets added to the mRNA strand for each nucleotide read in the DNA strand. Following this, the process of translation synthesizes a protein based on the informational sequence carried in the mRNA. It involves ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and transfer RNA (tRNA) and uses the genetic code to specify which amino acids make up the protein.

The genetic code is universal to all organisms and is degenerate, which means more than one set of three nucleotides (codons) can code for the same amino acid, thus ensuring the appropriate formation of proteins despite minor errors or mutations. The groundbreaking work of deciphering the genetic code and understanding protein synthesis has revolutionized biological sciences and irrevocably changed our understanding of the genetic blueprint of life.