Which of the following defines the order of bases in DNA that determines the sequence of amino acids in a protein?

The correct choice is the genetic code, which refers to the set of rules that dictate how the sequence of bases in DNA corresponds to the sequence of amino acids in proteins. In essence, the genetic code acts as a translator between the language of nucleotides (the building blocks of DNA) and the language of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins). Each set of three nucleotide bases, called a codon, specifies a particular amino acid, thus determining the primary structure of a protein during the process of translation.

Understanding the genetic code is fundamental to molecular biology and genetics, as it’s this code that underlies gene expression and the synthesis of proteins, which are crucial for cellular function and overall organismal development.