Ants and humans may seem very different, but in fact we share some surprising similarities at the genetic level. In this article, we’ll examine what DNA is, how DNA determines the traits of a species, and how much of our DNA ants and humans have in common.
What is DNA?
DNA, short for deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material found in the cells of humans, animals, plants, and almost all other organisms. It serves as the “blueprint” that contains all the genetic instructions for building and operating an organism.
DNA is made up of molecules called nucleotides, which are arranged into two long strands that form a double helix structure. The nucleotides come in four different varieties – adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T) – and it is the precise sequence of these nucleotides that determines the genetic code. Even a slight change in the DNA sequence can result in new traits or medical conditions.
How does DNA determine traits?
DNA contains genes that code for specific proteins. These proteins control an organism’s physical traits and functions. Humans are estimated to have 20,000-25,000 genes, while ants may have over 15,000 genes.
When a cell needs to produce a certain protein, the corresponding gene gets transcribed into a molecule called messenger RNA. This mRNA travels out of the nucleus and into the cell body, where cellular machines called ribosomes read the genetic code and assemble the protein based on the mRNA instructions.
So in essence, our DNA works like a cookbook, with genes representing recipes for different proteins. The diversity of life stems from organisms having different variations of the same genes/recipes.
How similar is human and ant DNA?
Humans share many of the same genes with ants, just as we do with other animals. Based on genetic studies, humans share about 85% of our DNA with ants. This means about 15% of our DNA sequence is different.
Here is a breakdown of how much DNA humans share with various organisms:
| Organism | Percentage of shared DNA with humans |
|---|---|
| Chimpanzees | 98-99% |
| Orangutans | 97% |
| Rhesus Monkeys | 93% |
| Mice | 90% |
| Fruit Flies | 60% |
| Bananas | 50% |
| Ants | 85% |
As you can see, humans are most closely related to other primates, like chimpanzees and monkeys. But even ants share the majority of their DNA with us.
Why do humans and ants share so much DNA?
Humans and ants are both complex, multicellular organisms that evolved from the same ancient ancestors. Many of our genes regulate basic cellular processes that all eukaryotes have in common.
For example, ants and humans both use genes connected to:
- Cell growth and division
- Copying and synthesizing DNA
- Metabolism
- Forming neurons and neural networks
- Muscle formation
These ancient genetic pathways existed before the evolutionary divergence between insects and mammals over 500 million years ago. Conservation of these core genes across vast evolutionary time means ants and humans are stuck with very similar DNA machinery for fundamental biological functions.
What DNA do ants and humans have in common?
Some of the main genes and gene families shared by ants and humans include:
Hox genes
Hox genes control body plan development and determine which limbs and organs grow where. All bilaterally symmetric animals have Hox genes dictating their basic body layout.
TRH receptor
This receptor binds to thyrotropin-releasing hormone, which regulates metabolism, behavior, and neuronal activity in both ant and human brains.
Opsins
These light-sensitive proteins are found in human and ant eyes. They allow vision by detecting light and color.
P450 enzymes
This ancient gene family aids metabolism and digestion in humans and ants. P450 enzymes help break down toxins and small molecules.
Heat shock proteins
These proteins help cells survive stressful conditions like heat, cold, and oxygen deprivation. They prevent protein misfolding in both human and ant cells.
Additionally, around 37% of human genes have direct counterparts in ants. These homologs share similar protein structure and functions in both species.
What DNA is different between humans and ants?
Despite our genetic similarities, there are still notable differences that set ants and humans apart. These include:
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The human genome is much larger at around 3 billion base pairs, compared to ants’ approximately 500 million base pairs.
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Ants have more genes related to chemical communication, like those involved in pheromone sensing. Humans do not produce pheromones.
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Ants have expanded families of venom, antimicrobial, and cytochrome P450 genes compared to humans. These allow ants to produce diverse chemical cocktails.
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Humans have more genes associated with learning, memory, and higher cognition. Ants operate mostly on instinct.
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Ants have a haplodiploid sex determination system, where unfertilized eggs become males and fertilized eggs become females. Human sex is determined by X and Y chromosomes.
What implications does this shared DNA have?
The high degree of shared genes between such distant species speaks to our common evolutionary origin. It enables scientists to translate knowledge from well-studied model organisms like ants to improve our understanding of human genetics.
For example, ant research has provided insights into human disease genes, developmental pathways, immunology, antiviral mechanisms, and population genetics. Studying how certain ant genes differ from their human versions helps reveal their evolutionary function.
Shared genes also allow for standardized testing between species. Potentially toxic substances can be screened in ants before doing mammalian trials. And novel antibiotics identified in ants could have similar efficacy in humans.
At the same time, our DNA differences illustrate how evolution tinkers with the same ancestral genes to generate amazing biodiversity. Just a 15% divergence in DNA sequence yielded ants’ complex insect societies and humans’ sophisticated cognitive abilities.
Conclusion
Despite appearances, humans and ants are connected by our ancestral ties and shared DNA. Many of our core genetic pathways evolved long before humans or ants existed. This genetic conservation across the animal kingdom reminds us that we are all part of the same remarkable evolutionary tree.