The origins of life on Earth have captivated scientists and the public alike for centuries. Recent research has revealed surprising insights into LUCA, or the Last Universal Common Ancestor, pushing back its estimated age by 400 million years.
According to a study led by paleogeneticist Edmund Moody at the University of Bristol, LUCA existed approximately 4.2 billion years ago, significantly earlier than previously thought. This finding challenges our understanding of evolution and the timeline of life’s emergence.
LUCA is considered the progenitor of all life forms on Earth, from microscopic bacteria to giant whales, plants, and humans. Despite being a simple prokaryotic cell, LUCA possessed complex features for its time, including a rudimentary immune system and the ability to thrive in extreme conditions.
The researchers used phylogenetic analysis to determine LUCA’s age, employing genetic mutations that occur gradually over time. By comparing the genes of modern species, they deduced that LUCA lived around 4.2 billion years ago, based on a mathematical model assessing mutation accumulation rates.
This new understanding of LUCA opens avenues for unraveling our origins and the conditions under which life emerged and diversified. However, many questions remain unanswered, including how LUCA came into existence and what secrets it still holds for us.
As scientists continue to explore the mysteries of life’s beginnings, these revelations will undoubtedly shape our understanding of evolution and our place in the universe.
Source: https://www.rudebaguette.com/en/2025/04/every-living-thing-traces-back-to-this-ancient-creature-scientists-reveal-a-common-ancestor-older-than-we-ever-imagined-shocking-the-scientific-world