a1.2.10 - conservation of the genetic code

Question 1

define universal in relation to the genetic code.

Answer 1

universal means that the characteristic is shared by all life. a universal generic code means that all life uses essentially the same code when translating information stored in genes into a polypeptide.

Question 2

outline why conservation of the genetic code across all forms of life is evidence of common ancestry.

Answer 2

using inductive reasoning, it can be concluded that the use of the same genetic code across all forms of life indicates that all organisms inherited the use of the code from a common ancestor. the alternative, that all forms of life independently developed use of the same genetic code, is an illogical hypothesis.