Five statements comparing prokaryotes and eukaryotes are given.Which statement provides evidence that supports the claim that all cells share a common ancestor?
A) Prokaryotes and eukaryotes use the same genetic code.
B) There are many examples of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes that use flagella for locomotion.
C) The DNA present in mitochondria of eukaryotes shares more overlap with prokaryotic DNA than with eukaryotic nuclear DNA.
D) Prokaryotic cells are generally smaller than eukaryotic cells.
E) DNA in eukaryotic cells is enclosed in a membrane-bound nucleus, and DNA in prokaryotic cells resides in the nucleoid, which is not separated from the cytoplasm.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that prokaryotes and eukaryotes use the same genetic code suggests that they share a common ancestor. If the genetic code was different between the two groups, then it would suggest that they evolved independently and did not share a common ancestor. However, the fact that they share the same genetic code suggests that the genetic code was present in the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) of all cells.

Five Statements Comparing Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes Are Given