Reading The Code

Differentiating Contiguous (Touching) vs. Non-Contiguous (Punctuation)

Correct

Contiguously

(Commaless)

The mRNA is read in groups of three, one immediately after the other. There is no physical gap and no "spacer" nucleotide between codons.

AUG CUC GGA

Note: Codon 1 touches Codon 2 directly.

Incorrect

With "Commas"

(Punctuation)

Early scientists wondered if there were "spacer" bases (commas) between the triplet words to separate them. This was proven false.

AUG U CUC A GGA

Note: The orange bases act as "junk" separators. This does not happen in nature.

The "Fat Cat" Analogy

If English worked like DNA (Contiguously):

THEFATCATATETHERAT

Contiguous: We read 3 letters, then immediately read the next 3.


Non-Contiguous (Punctuation): THE, FAT, CAT... (Requires a comma to separate)

Wait... Continuous vs. Contiguous?

Focus: Time / Process

Continuous

Meaning: Something that happens without stopping.

  • Continuous study (no breaks)
  • DNA synthesis on Leading Strand
🧠 Think:
Con + tin + uous → Continues on and on
Focus: Space / Position

Contiguous

Meaning: Things that are next to each other / touching.

  • Contiguous rooms (share a wall)
  • DNA fragments lying adjacent
🧠 Think:
Contiguous → Contact / Touching
âš¡ Quick Trick: Continuous = No Break in Time  |  Contiguous = No Gap in Space âš¡