The systematics of indices of physico-chemical properties of codons and amino
acids across the genetic code are examined. Using a simple numerical labelling
scheme for nucleic acid bases, data can be fitted as low-order polynomials of
the 6 coordinates in the 64-dimensional codon weight space. The work confirms
and extends recent studies by Siemion of amino acid conformational parameters.
The connections between the present work, and recent studies of the genetic
code structure using dynamical symmetry algebras, are pointed out.Comment: 26 pages Latex, 10 figures (4 ps, 6 Tex). Refereed version, small
changes to discussion (conclusion unaltered). Minor alterations to format of
figures and tables. To appear in BioSystem