Question

Except some organisms, most organisms follow the same Genetic Code

tRNAs, tRNA synthetases, ribosomes, etc. comprise the translational machinery for converting nucleotide codons to proteins.

My question is:

Why is the genetic code so heavily conserved across life, given that the genes for the translational components noted above presumably vary significantly across evolution?

Answer 1

The genetic code is conserved across life and serves as evidence for a common origin. Despite variations in translational components, the code remains nearly identical due to the relationships between codons and amino acids.

Step-by-step explanation:

The genetic code is heavily conserved across life because it is a powerful evidence that all life on Earth shares a common origin. The universal genetic code allows for genetic material to be transferred and translated across different species. Despite variations in the genes for translational components, the genetic code remains nearly identical because of the specific relationships between codons and amino acids.