Chapter 1
The grand ancestor of all cells
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Chapter 2
Powering up the ancient cell
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Chapter 3
The blueprint of multicellular cooperation
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Chapter 4
From ancient fish to human bodies
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YOUR GOAL
Master of The universal recipe of life
Ch 2 · Powering up the ancient cell
darrey Ancient ATP Synthase
We pump the protons (pump it!) / Same ancient motor spins (oh-oh!)
darrey Mitochondria are ancient bacteria that evolved into our cellular power generators.
BETA
darrey Match essential genes to discover how LUCA's ancient spark still powers our bodies today.
Fun Fact
Maternal DNA: Every single mitochondrion powering your muscles right now descended from a single bacterium swallowed by an ancestral cell billions of years ago.
Glossary
atp synthase (noun)
An enzyme complex that catalyzes the formation of the energy-storing molecule adenosine triphosphate. This highly conserved molecular motor powered the Last Universal Common Ancestor more than three billion years ago.
An enzyme complex that catalyzes the formation of the energy-storing molecule adenosine triphosphate. This highly conserved molecular motor powered the Last Universal Common Ancestor more than three billion years ago.
Quiz
What is the scientific name for the theory that mitochondria evolved from engulfed bacteria?
Quiz
What major planetary event about 2.4 billion years ago forced cells to adapt to a new gas?
Quiz
In 2016, Yoshinori Ohsumi won a Nobel Prize for discovering the genetic mechanisms of which process?