Codon–anticodon interaction and the genetic code evolution

The evolution of the genetic code, with 20 amino acids encoded from the beginning, is analyzed from the viewpoint of codon–anticodon interaction. Imposing a minimum principle for the interaction, in the framework of the so called crystal basis model of the genetic code, we determine the structure of the anticodons in the ancient, archetypal and early genetic codes, that are all reconciled in a unique frame. Most of our results agree with the generally accepted scheme.