The term for the genetic code that determines protein synthesis is DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). DNA consists of sequences of nucleotides, which collectively carry the instructions for assembling amino acids into proteins. These sequences are organized into genes, and the process of protein synthesis involves two main steps: transcription (where DNA is converted into messenger RNA) and translation (where ribosomes synthesize proteins based on the mRNA template). This genetic code is fundamental to cellular function and inheritance.