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ATP is an organic molecule common to the metabolism of every species on Earth - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 10 - 2015 - Paper 1
Question 10
ATP is an organic molecule common to the metabolism of every species on Earth. Which of the following statements explains why this fact is considered evidence for ev... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:ATP is an organic molecule common to the metabolism of every species on Earth - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 10 - 2015 - Paper 1
Step 1
The gene for ATP developed in the earliest organisms and has been retained by subsequent species.
Answer
The fact that ATP is a common molecule across all species suggests a shared evolutionary heritage. This is best explained by option (C), which posits that the gene for ATP originated in early life forms and has persisted through evolution. This indicates that ATP is fundamental to cellular metabolism, and its presence across diverse species supports the idea that these organisms share a common ancestor.