The genetic code is a set of rules that defines how the information in DNA is translated into proteins, which are essential for the structure and function of living organisms. It consists of sequences of nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA, organized into groups of three called codons. Each codon corresponds to a specific amino acid, the building blocks of proteins. This code is nearly universal, meaning it is the same in most organisms, from bacteria to humans. The process of translating the genetic code into proteins involves two main steps: transcription, where DNA is copied into messenger RNA, and translation, where the RNA is read by ribosomes to assemble amino acids into proteins.