Conservation of Genes

Conservation of genes refers to the phenomenon where certain genes, and the proteins they produce, remain very similar across different species over evolutionary time. This occurs because these genes perform essential functions that are crucial for survival. When a gene is highly conserved, it indicates that its role has been so important that changes to it would likely be harmful. Studying conserved genes helps scientists understand fundamental biological processes and how different species are related, as the similarities reveal shared ancestry and the importance of these genes in life’s development.