Between the three domains of life of Archae, prokarya, and eukarya their genetic information is stored as Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid (DNA). These organisms are different from each other in many different ways yet share the same building blocks of life that is DNA. DNA contains the molecular instructions for life. Instructions such as determining a person’s eye color, the fragrance of a flower, or the infectious mechanism of bacteria.1
In fact, Archaebacteria consists of methanogens, halophiles, and thermophiles. These are single celled microorganisms that can exist in extreme conditions such as without oxygen, highly saline environments, and very high temperatures. Prokarya are single celled organisms such as bacteria with no nucleus or no enclosed membrane around their genetic material. Eukarya are organisms with a nucleus or with a membrane enclosed genetic material such as plants and animals.
Even as life on earth began about 3.8 billion years ago, DNA as genetic material has been preserved in living beings. DNA makes RNA, and RNA makes proteins. DNA is the source information by which proteins and enzymes are synthesized which are required to carry out the many functions of a living organism. The beauty of this streamlined process is that one DNA copy can be transcribed into a hundred RNA copies that can be translated to a thousand proteins each. This increases the potency of a single gene in DNA that encodes a protein to reach all its targets.
Moreover organisms living in such diverse habitats as hot springs, submarine hydrothermal vents, hot, dry deserts, hot crust of the earth kilometers below the surface, and kilometers below the ice use this DNA process to live.2 Additionally, immovable plants and movable animals which are so different in themselves also use essentially the same DNA mechanism.
Actually, DNA itself is made up of four different bases similar to the binary code of 0s and 1s for a computer. It also exists in a double strand. This 4 base structure provides a good way to store instructions and information and replicate itself. DNA is also more stable than RNA to store genetic information, more easily repaired, information is better protected, and allows for double-checking its sequence during replication.3
Furthermore, all living organisms are based on DNA. On the one hand, the binary code is essential for all computers to function, organize, calculate, compute, and delete. On the superior hand, DNA is essential for all the various forms of life to function, have its unique features, and die. In conclusion, whether they are extremophiles, bacteria, plants, trees, flowers, zebras, lions, or humans, amazingly DNA is the common theme regardless of the manifold habitats, states, or types of life that exist.