DECODING LUCA - Secrets of the Genetic Code ~ with SAWSAN WEHBI

SAWSAN WEHBI is a genetics PhD student at the University of Arizona studying the origins of life through the lens of astrobiology. Just recently, Sawsan and her colleagues released a study on the origin of the genetic code.

We began this journey with our recent interview with Professor Joanna Masel. Today, Sawsan answers some of the most frequent questions that have come up about this work. Join us as we plunge into the beginnings of the genetic code and find out just how she and the team were able to decode its secrets!


0:00 START
02:52 Sawsan's background
05:23 Astrobiology
08:17 Research overview
12:25 Question: How could LUCA have ancestors?
16:03 Question: How can ancient amino acid frequencies be identified?
23:04 Question: Are the origin of life and the origin of the genetic code different things?
26:34 Question: Is the genetic code still evolving?
27:41 Future projects


LINKS FOR SAWSAN WEHBI


SITE: https://www.masellab.org/people/sawsa...

Google Scholar: https://bit.ly/4h1QV49

BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/seekingluca....



Arizona Astrobiology Center

SITE:
https://astrobiology.arizona.edu/

INSTAGRAM:
Arizona Astrobiology Center:   / azastrobiology  

X/TWITTER: Arizona Astrobiology Center - @azastrobiology

THREADS:
Arizona Astrobiology Center: https://www.threads.net/@azastrobiology



RESEARCH PAPERS:
Order of amino acid recruitment into the genetic code resolved by Last Universal Common Ancestor’s protein domains
https://bit.ly/4io0Mmc

Data files and R scripts used to generate the results and figures are available at sawsanwehbi/Pfam-age-classification GitHub repository.



SEE ALSO

NDU: Notre Dame University-Louaize https://www.ndu.edu.lb/

AUB: American University of Beirut https://www.aub.edu.lb/

CHASING LUCA - Origins of the Genetic Code ~ with PROFESSOR JOANNA MASEL https://bit.ly/3Rij5gN



FOOTAGE

• Asteroid Approaching Early Earth via NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
• Lebanon By Drone via DarkMatters Entertainment
• Let There Be Life: A Cosmic Art Loop - via melodysheep
• Planets in the Solar System via Learn Bright
• DNA animation via wehi.tv
• Early Earth via NASA's Goddard Space Center conceptual image lab
• Bacteria Animation by Halo Media Works
• Bacteria 3D Animation by JLabAnimation
• How Your Body Creates Proteins via Nucleus Medical Media



Interviews powered by https://streamyard.com/

#evolutionsoup #evolution #paleo #paleontology #paleoartist #Homosapiens #hominid #artwork #Darwin #cave #bone #fossils #Neanderthal #australopithecus #hominin #extinct #animals #science #anthropology #paleoanthropology #genus #species #africa #skull #skulls #naturalselection #lucy #paleontology
---------------
SUBSCRIBE to Evolution Soup: http://bit.ly/2pUOYSb

FOLLOW Evolution Soup Instagram & Twitter! @evolution_soup

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/evolutionsou...

Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@evolution_soup

SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast! http://evolutionsoup.buzzsprout.com [RSS feed: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/354743.rss]

MERCH
Shop at Redbubble store! https://www.redbubble.com/people/evol...
Fourthwall Store: https://bit.ly/3B2XqUZ


In association with Talk Beliefs YouTube Channel: http://bit.ly/2lA6YOv

DISCLAIMER:
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

Creative Commons.