![Table of the genetic code.](http://static.sciencelearn.org.nz/images/images/000/002/333/full/the_genetic_code_oversize20161104-16325-jqix5a.jpg?1674168024)
The genetic code is the cell’s ‘instruction manual’ for producing a protein from an mRNA sequence. Three-base-long sections of mRNA (codons) are ‘read’ in sequence at the ribosome. Each codon corresponds to a particular amino acid, which is added to the growing protein chain.