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Direct Hit

Theme A - Unity & diversity

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Page Facing Up

Theme B - Form & Function

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Pill

Theme C - Interaction &  Interdependence

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Keycap Digit One

Theme D - Continuity & Change

Hey there, Biology enthusiasts! Buckle up for a thrilling ride through the genetic code and universal common ancestry! This will be as enjoyable as piecing together a cosmic puzzle. Let&#39;s break it down into chewable bites!

<ul>
	<li>
	What&#39;s a Codon?

	<ul>
		<li>Think of codons as the words of the DNA language, each made up of three bases (letters).</li>
		<li>There are 64 different codons that can either mean an amino acid or signal a stop/start in the protein-making process.</li>
		<li>Fun Fact: It&#39;s like how &quot;f-i-s-h&quot; means a swimming creature. The letters could be arranged to mean anything, but we agree it&#39;s fish.</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
	<li>
	Why is the Genetic Code Universal?

	<ul>
		<li>Imagine if humans spoke the same language everywhere. That&#39;s what organisms do with their genetic code!</li>
		<li>Small variations exist, but largely, the genetic code is consistent across species. It&#39;s like different accents of the same language.</li>
		<li>Real-World Example: If dogs, cats, humans, and trees all used the same code, it hints they had a common great-great-grandparent in the family tree!</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>
	Why LUCA and not Random Chance?

	<ul>
		<li>The chance of every species randomly using the same genetic code is slimmer than winning the lottery every week for a year. It&#39;s just not happening!</li>
		<li>So, a common ancestor (LUCA) passed down this code to everyone, like a family recipe.</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
	<li>
	Convergent Evolution? Nope!

	<ul>
		<li>Convergent evolution is when species not closely related evolve similar traits.</li>
		<li>Example: Bats and birds both have wings but aren&#39;t closely related. That&#39;s convergent evolution!</li>
		<li>But with genetic code, it&#39;s not just about similar looks. Key structures like ribosomes and enzymes are practically identical across life forms. So, no, it&#39;s not just a random resemblance.</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
	<li>
	Protein Families and Evolutionary Fingerprints

	<ul>
		<li>350+ protein families exist that trace back to a common ancestor like clues in a detective story.</li>
		<li>These proteins are like a family reunion photo, showing that everyone&#39;s related to LUCA in some way.</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>Other Life Forms?
	<ul>
		<li>There might have been other life forms once, like parallel universes in sci-fi movies. However, they went extinct (game over!).</li>
		<li>
		Maybe LUCA&#39;s descendants were too competitive, like a soccer team that never loses.
		</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
	<li>Natural Selection Keeps Rolling
	<ul>
		<li>Think of it as a never-ending reality show where species compete to survive.</li>
		<li>Example: Think about the dodo bird, which went extinct because it couldn&#39;t adapt to new predators. That&#39;s natural selection at work.</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
</ul>

Your imaginary timeline showing how life evolved &amp; went extinct over time, like an epic movie series.

 
And there you have it! We dove into the intriguing world of the genetic code and LUCA, exploring the DNA language and the eternal game of survival. Remember, whether you&#39;re an oak tree or a platypus, we&#39;re all part of a big, happy family, thanks to LUCA!

Keep those questions coming, young scientists! 🌟🔬🌿

Unlocking Life's Origins Deciphering LUCA's Code

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Higher Level

Biology HL

Theme A - Unity & diversity

Unlocking Life's Origins Deciphering LUCA's Code

Table of content

Understanding genetic code the DNA's language 🧩

Unlock the Full Content!

Theme A - Unity & diversity

Unlocking Life's Origins Deciphering LUCA's Code

Table of content

Understanding genetic code the DNA's language 🧩

Unlock the Full Content!