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1.4.3 Common Descent: Sharing DNA
DNA and palaeontological evidence indicates all life on earth began from one replicating molecule nearly four billion years ago. Every living thing on earth uses the same 64-word DNA “dictionary” of codons, practically conclusive evidence that all life on earth descended from the same molecular ancestor. This phenomenon is known as common descent. The origin of life amounted to the origin of heredity.
Today, for example, humans and flies share much of the same genetic material. So do humans and mice. As previously mentioned, humans, bonobos, and chimpanzees share more than 98% of the same DNA. The genomes of chimpanzees and humans have been sequenced and compared, and show remarkable similarity.
Humans share some similar behaviour characteristics with chimpanzees, such as male aggression and tool use. Yet, despite genomic similarity, enough genetic differences exist to make humans and chimps far different species.