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 1 · The grand ancestor of all cells
darrey Last Universal Common Ancestor
Deep in the ocean we share an ancient spark (oh yeah!) / We keep the genes of LUCA beating in the dark (that's right!)
darrey Early life relied on geothermal energy and simple chemical reactions rather than sunlight.
darrey Every living thing uses the exact same genetic language to build proteins and survive.
BETA
darrey Match core genes from LUCA to humans to discover the ancient biology we still share.
Fun Fact
LUCA's age: Scientists estimate LUCA lived 3.8 to 4.2 billion years ago, meaning we share genes with an organism older than our continents.
Glossary
luca (noun)
The hypothetical single-celled organism from which all life on Earth is descended. A 2016 study identified 355 core genes tracing back to this ancestral cell at primordial deep-sea vents.
The hypothetical single-celled organism from which all life on Earth is descended. A 2016 study identified 355 core genes tracing back to this ancestral cell at primordial deep-sea vents.
Quiz
In 2016, genomic researchers identified how many specific genes that likely belonged to LUCA?
Quiz
What is the primary function of the highly conserved ribosomal RNA genes found in all life?
Quiz
Which molecule serves as the universal energy currency for both LUCA and modern humans?