Uploaded July 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
What is LUCA?
According to the theory of evolution, LUCA, the (Last Universal Common Ancestor), is the ancestor to which every creature that lives today traces back to, and the tree of life branches from there with continuous modification by Random Mutations and Natural selection.
Can we verify this by science and reason?
I am posting seven paradoxes pertaining to the question of LUCA.
So, let's explore the question!...
===
If you have not already subscribed to the free course, you can enroll here:
findingtruthchannel.com/courses/is-evolution-true-or-false
===
Session Contents:
0:00 What is LUCA?
0:45 DNA is the core of self-replication
1:30 Error Correction in DNA vs RNA
4:46 Understanding RNA
5:33 Enzymes
6:14 Scenarios for LUCA
8:40 Paradox 1: How RNA LUCA survived w/o EC?!
9:09 Paradox 2: How come viruses are non-living?
9:35 Paradox 3: If LUCA has EC why not viruses?
9:54 Paradox 4: Why is there no RNA life with EC?
11:06 Paradox 5: Which is first, DNA or Enzymes?
11:32 Paradox 6: How DNA life w/o EC survive?
12:01 Paradox 7: Where are DNA w/o EC clads?
===
References:
Paper: looking for DNA-less life: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22093146
Read about Replication fidelity in ecoli: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22404288
Activation of the DNA Damage Response by RNA Viruses: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4808796
Check item number 8 in this interesting Nature paper about Activation of the DNA Damage Response by RNA Viruses: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4808796
Read: Is a Genome a Codeword of an Error-Correcting Code? journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0036644
All DNA-based life (that we know of) has error correction, including prokaryotes!
Note the quote ” All cells possess DNA-repair enzymes” in chapter 14 here: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21114
Check item number 3 under Single Strand damage: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_repair).
Read this light article about LUCA: imperial.ac.uk/news/120606/who-what-luca
and this one that considers looking for common genes and lateral gene transfer scenario: astrobiology.nasa.gov/news/looking-for-luca-the-last-universal-common-ancestor
Analogy of DNA and RNA to computer systems:
Read this very interesting article about this topic: An examination of the structure and function of computer hard drives and DNA ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2829000
Read, Using RNA as Molecular Code for Programming Cellular Function: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssynbio.5b00297
Enzymes as catalysts: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9921
How do cells cope with RNA damage and its consequences?: jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(20)34972-3/fulltext ).
Speculation about LUCA evolving viable RNA error-correction: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7961336_Modern_mRNA_...
RNA polymerases of RNA viruses "kings of errors": error rate as often as one time for every 1,000 – 100,000 nucleotides polymerized. ( virology.ws/2009/05/10/the-error-prone-ways-of-rna-synthesis
nature.com/scitable/topicpage/dna-replication-and-causes-of-mutation-409/).
RNA viruses have high mutation rates—up to a million times higher than their hosts: journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3000003
Note about RdRp “RNA-dependent RNA polymerase: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNA-dependent_RNA_polymerase
Viruses can replicate their genetic material without having to hijack cellular DNA but they still cannot do the replication outside the cytoplasm of a DNA-based cell: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30551668
===
Videos where excerpts are used for educational purposes in the session:
The transcription process: youtu.be/gG7uCskUOrA
The wonderful process of splicing using spliceosomes: youtu.be/aVgwr0QpYNE
Protein folding: youtu.be/yZ2aY5lxEGE
Role of enzymes in catalyzing reactions and other roles: youtu.be/yk14dOOvwMk
Enzymatic Rate Acceleration: youtu.be/yk14dOOvwMk?t=73
Apoptosis Intrinsic pathway by wehi tv: youtu.be/DR80Huxp4y8?t=163
===
Relevant videos from Finding Truth to expand on the discussion:
Chance and random mutations: youtu.be/iF_ZjUtMbE8
Can random mutation cause evolution: youtu.be/ZIeLieLFRgI
On Evolution series: Interview about Random Mutation: youtu.be/c9j0P4wtHSo
On Evolution, Mutations with multicellularity: youtu.be/cCw_9bshQ7w
Debate about Descent w/Modification by Random Mutation: youtu.be/yrSjft-1QvA
===
#EvolutionCourse #Mutation #Genetics
LUCA's Paradox | #EvolutionCourse Session 3
Course Episode 3
Watch the episode here, but don't forget to share with loved ones:
youtu.be/iEc03jbPLs0
What is LUCA?
According to the theory of evolution, LUCA, the (Last Universal Common Ancestor), is the ancestor to which every creature that lives today traces back to, and the tree of life branches from there with continuous modification by Random Mutations and Natural selection.
Can we verify this by science and reason?
I am posting seven paradoxes pertaining to the question of LUCA.
So, let's explore the question!...
===
If you have not already subscribed to the free course, you can enroll here:
findingtruthchannel.com/courses/is-evolution-true-or-false
===
Session Contents:
0:00 What is LUCA?
0:45 DNA is the core of self-replication
1:30 Error Correction in DNA vs RNA
4:46 Understanding RNA
5:33 Enzymes
6:14 Scenarios for LUCA
8:40 Paradox 1: How RNA LUCA survived w/o EC?!
9:09 Paradox 2: How come viruses are non-living?
9:35 Paradox 3: If LUCA has EC why not viruses?
9:54 Paradox 4: Why is there no RNA life with EC?
11:06 Paradox 5: Which is first, DNA or Enzymes?
11:32 Paradox 6: How DNA life w/o EC survive?
12:01 Paradox 7: Where are DNA w/o EC clads?
===
References:
Paper: looking for DNA-less life: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22093146
Read about Replication fidelity in ecoli: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22404288
Activation of the DNA Damage Response by RNA Viruses: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4808796
Check item number 8 in this interesting Nature paper about Activation of the DNA Damage Response by RNA Viruses: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4808796
Read: Is a Genome a Codeword of an Error-Correcting Code? journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0036644
All DNA-based life (that we know of) has error correction, including prokaryotes!
Note the quote ” All cells possess DNA-repair enzymes” in chapter 14 here: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21114
Check item number 3 under Single Strand damage: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_repair).
Read this light article about LUCA: imperial.ac.uk/news/120606/who-what-luca
and this one that considers looking for common genes and lateral gene transfer scenario: astrobiology.nasa.gov/news/looking-for-luca-the-last-universal-common-ancestor
Analogy of DNA and RNA to computer systems:
Read this very interesting article about this topic: An examination of the structure and function of computer hard drives and DNA ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2829000
Read, Using RNA as Molecular Code for Programming Cellular Function: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssynbio.5b00297
Enzymes as catalysts: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9921
How do cells cope with RNA damage and its consequences?: jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(20)34972-3/fulltext ).
Speculation about LUCA evolving viable RNA error-correction: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7961336_Modern_mRNA_...
RNA polymerases of RNA viruses "kings of errors": error rate as often as one time for every 1,000 – 100,000 nucleotides polymerized. ( virology.ws/2009/05/10/the-error-prone-ways-of-rna-synthesis
nature.com/scitable/topicpage/dna-replication-and-causes-of-mutation-409/).
RNA viruses have high mutation rates—up to a million times higher than their hosts: journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3000003
Note about RdRp “RNA-dependent RNA polymerase: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNA-dependent_RNA_polymerase
Viruses can replicate their genetic material without having to hijack cellular DNA but they still cannot do the replication outside the cytoplasm of a DNA-based cell: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30551668
===
Videos where excerpts are used for educational purposes in the session:
The transcription process: youtu.be/gG7uCskUOrA
The wonderful process of splicing using spliceosomes: youtu.be/aVgwr0QpYNE
Protein folding: youtu.be/yZ2aY5lxEGE
Role of enzymes in catalyzing reactions and other roles: youtu.be/yk14dOOvwMk
Enzymatic Rate Acceleration: youtu.be/yk14dOOvwMk?t=73
Apoptosis Intrinsic pathway by wehi tv: youtu.be/DR80Huxp4y8?t=163
===
Relevant videos from Finding Truth to expand on the discussion:
Chance and random mutations: youtu.be/iF_ZjUtMbE8
Can random mutation cause evolution: youtu.be/ZIeLieLFRgI
On Evolution series: Interview about Random Mutation: youtu.be/c9j0P4wtHSo
On Evolution, Mutations with multicellularity: youtu.be/cCw_9bshQ7w
Debate about Descent w/Modification by Random Mutation: youtu.be/yrSjft-1QvA
===
#EvolutionCourse #Mutation #Genetics
LUCA's Paradox | #EvolutionCourse Session 3
Course Episode 3
Watch the episode here, but don't forget to share with loved ones:
youtu.be/iEc03jbPLs0
