Question

Using your current knowledge of genetics, make a list of some of the genes that all life forms may share.

Answer 1

All living organisms store genetic information using the same molecules- DNA and RNA. You're not completely human, atleast when it comes to the genetic material inside your cells. You- and everyone else- may harbor as many as 145 genes that have jumped from bacteria, other single celled organisms, and viruses and made themselves at home in the human genome. Believe it or not, plants and animals share many of the same genes- but we use some of them in different ways. For a good example of this, u need only look to the Eyes Absent (EYA) genes. These genes help flies build eyes, aid in humans development, and contribute to plant embryogenesis.

Our DNA is 99.9% the same as the person next to us- and we're surprisingly similar to a lot of other living things. Our bodies have 3 billion genetic building blocks, or base pairs, that make us who we are. While the egg laying and feathered body are pretty different form a human's body, about 60% of chicken genes have a human gene counterpart. Even bananas surprisingly still share about 60% of the same DNA as humans.

Due to billions of years of evolution, humans share genes with all living organisms. The percentage of genes or DNA that organisms share records their similarities. We sharr more genes with organisms that are more closely related to us.