Genetic code and optimal resistance to the effects of mutations.

This paper deals with the notion of resistance of the genetic code to the effects of mutations. We measure the resistance of a group of t codons as the number of pairs of those which differ from each other in only one of their three bases. We find for each value of t the maximum possible value of the resistance and we describe some groups of codons giving this value. Important examples of such configurations are found in the genetic code, among these are the groups of synonymous codons, as observed elsewhere, and the cluster of codons which have an hydrophobic amino acid for translation.