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@ Earth.com
2025-04-20 17:10:07
All life on Earth comes from one ancestor, now we know what it was
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LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor) is identified as the origin of all life on Earth; LUCA existed approximately 4.2 billion years ago, shortly after Earth's formation; LUCA had around 2,600 genes, similar to modern bacteria; The study utilized complex evolutionary models to analyze thousands of genomes; LUCA possessed a developmental toolkit including membrane pumps and DNA-repair mechanisms; The Wood–Ljungdahl pathway was part of LUCA's capabilities, allowing it to convert CO2 and H2 into energy; LUCA likely lived in hydrothermal vent environments, utilizing metal-rich chemistry; LUCA had an early immune system, indicating an evolutionary arms race with viruses; The research suggests life on Earth thrived rapidly, hinting at the possibility of life existing on other planets; The findings were published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.
#Luca #Evolution #Genetics #AncientLife #EarthHistory #HydrothermalVents #Viruses #Bacteria #Archaea #NatureEcology&Evolution
https://www.earth.com/news/luca-last-universal-common-ancestor-progenitor-all-life-on-earth/