Chapter 17, Problem 15TYPSS

Certain portions of the rRNAs in the large subunit of the ribosome are very similar in all organisms. To make sense of this finding, Carl Woese suggests that the conserved sequences have an important functional role. His logic is that these conserved sequences evolved in a common ancestor of all modern cells and are so important to cell function that any changes in the sequences cause death. In addition to rRNAs, which specific portions of the ribosome would you expect to be identical or nearly identical in all organisms? Explain your logic.