Humans share a significant portion of their DNA with fish. Specifically, humans share approximately 70% of their genetic makeup with zebrafish, according to research completed in 2013 by the zebrafish genome project.
Here’s a breakdown:
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Shared Genetic Material: The zebrafish genome project discovered that zebrafish possess over 26,000 protein-coding genes, which is the most of any vertebrate sequenced.
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Percentage of Similarity: Scientists found that zebrafish share 70% of the genetic makeup of humans.
While it might seem surprising that humans and fish share so much genetic material given their apparent differences, this common genetic heritage highlights the shared evolutionary history of vertebrates.
