What is the primary component of the genetic code?

The primary component of the genetic code is codons. Codons are sequences of three nucleotides that correspond to specific amino acids or signals during protein synthesis. Each codon in the messenger RNA (mRNA) specifies which amino acid will be added next during translation, thus playing a crucial role in determining the protein's structure and function.

While nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids and paired bases are involved in the structure of DNA, they do not directly constitute the code itself in the context of genetic information translation. Amino acids are the end products of the genetic code but are not part of the code itself; they are synthesized based on the codon sequences in mRNA. Therefore, codons are essential for interpreting the genetic information encoded in an organism's DNA.