Does a single celled organism have DNA?

Question

If not, most modern scientists are fuck3d.

Yes, but does a single celled organism need DNA, since it isn't really much of a structure, and it splits off in order to reproduce, and doesn't use sexual reproduction.

Answer 1

Indeed singlee-celled organisms do have DNA. In fact, the record for the most nucleotides in a cell is held by the single-celled Amoeba Dubai at 670,000,000,000. Comparitivley, there are 2,900,000,000 nucleotides in the human genome.

Answer 2

DNA is required for EVERY single organism in existence from the simplest bacteria to you. All of these organisms also have RNA but since it is inherently less stable, it is used as the temporary memory for "active genes" (short-term copies of active genetic material). It is true that some viruses use RNA as their genetic material (which is thought to be a holdover from an RNA world), but as was mentioned above, it is debated whether they are living or not. Even these RNA viruses, known as retroviruses, use a DNA intermediate for their genome when they enter the cell.

Even though bacteria are rather simple, they still need DNA because it contains the information to produce proteins that hold the cell together, repair cellular damage, and make more "parts" when the cell replicates. Without genetic material, cells could not respond to their environment, and lacking the ability to replenish themselves, every time they divided their size would diminish by half until they were vanishingly small.

DNA is not only required for sexual reproduction but is also used in asexual reproduction of every kind. The DNA is replicated during division, just as it is in your cells (there is a lot less of it though), one copy remains in the parent cell and another gets passed to the daughter. It is notable that even bacteria can engage in a primitive form of sexual reproduction where they can exchange tiny circles of DNA called "plasmids" that encode a few genes (often confering antibiotic resistance or pathogenic genes like adhesion molecules and toxins).

Every living thing has sprung from the same "font" in the form of a single-celled progenitor. As a result, we all use the same code, the same parts, and similar processes to conduct our business on the molecular level. DNA is the way life on earth has decided to manage it's sustainable information.

Answer 3

As far as I know, all forms of life need some sort of genetic material. Most organisms have DNA, but some viruses use RNA for its genetic material (viruses as a form of life are debatable, but this is just an example that RNA could be used as well).

The basic use of DNA is to provide a "blueprint" for producing organic compounds that are required to live and reproduce. These compounds allow organisms to create energy in order to continue in its life processes, so DNA is essential to life.

In response to your addition, DNA is used in sexual reproduction in order to have genetic variabilty. However, even asexual organisms need to pass on its genes. Single celled organisms that reproduce by binary fission ("split off") still copy their DNA and one copy is given to each daugther cell (2 new cells formed).

Answer 4

Yes they do. A cell would be unable to replicate if it didn't have either DNA or RNA. Even viruses which are not necessarily considered living have one of those in order to maintain there existence as a species.

Answer 5

Absolutely and that fact is one of the big arguments now that the creationists are using against the evolutionists. It seems that the Amoeba has a longer DNA link that humankind and yet it did not change by evolution by pairing up with others. WHY, is the question that creationists ask evolutionists which they can not answer for now.

Answer 6

Yes I'm fairly sure they have some form of DNA...
Otherwise, how would they be able to reproduce and create the same kind of organism?

Answer 7

Yes.
Yes, they need DNA or other information template to code for the proteins which provide structure and catalyze all the reactions needed to make the cell living.

Answer 8

ya they sure do have dna,but not in the nucleus(actually they have a nucleoid and not a true nucleus),it is a must in every org. even viruses have either dna or rna this is the thing that distinguishes the dead from the alive.

Answer 9

It could have RNA, which is a nucleic acid as well, but of a lesser degree of complexity. Every living organism, even viruses and bacteria have one or another of those acids, because, otherwise, they couldn't multiply.

Answer 10

Yes Sir!