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> They found that not a single gene is shared across all of life I think this is a pop-science misunderstanding of what the authors were trying to say. They co
by tstactplsignore 10y ago
> They found that not a single gene is shared across all of life
I think this is a pop-science misunderstanding of what the authors were trying to say. They couldn't find a single unique "minimal set" of genes- but there are genes that we know all organisms share, like the rRNA genes and homologous core ribosomal proteins. All organisms will also require some kind tRNAs and their genes from some source, even if the tRNA genes themselves are not highly homologously conserved.
- julienchastang 10y agoExactly. The rRNA peptidyl transferase loop is conserved throughout all life, for example. Like, you say the researchers obviously understand this, but author of the article likely did not.