- It is believed that all organisms share a common ancestor, There are FOUR features that support common ancestry:
- DNA and RNA are carriers of genetic information
- Ribosomes are found in all forms of life
- Universality of the genetic code and gene expression
- Core metabolic pathways are conserved across all currently recognized domains
- Ex: DNA replication, cellular respiration, protein synthesis
- All living things consist of one or more cells; all cells have plasma membranes
- All living things are categorized into 3 Domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya
