The NCSE asserts that Explore Evolution's discussion of the
universal genetic code, its variants, and puzzles about the
origin of the variant codes, "is based on misunderstanding
and/or misrepresentation of the available knowledge and of the
scientific record." The NCSE's own discussion of this area,
however, is very deeply confused. The NCSE does not grasp basic
facts about the variant code puzzle, and this leads to several
serious errors in their discussion. 1. Making a hash of a
fascinating puzzle -- the NCSE discussion We begin with the
NCSE's most serious error. They write: First, contrary to the
key assertion [of EE], scientists have been aware of natural
genetic code mutants since at least the 1960s, and the actual
molecular mechanism of some of these mutations (such as
"suppressors of amber") was elucidated in both bacteria and
yeast (Goodman HM, Abelson J, Landy A, Brenner S, Smith JD.
"Amber suppression: a nucleotide change in the anticodon of a
tyrosine transfer RNA." Nature. 1968; 217:1019-24; Cap