* DNA as the genetic material: All living things use DNA to store their genetic information.
* The genetic code: The instructions encoded in DNA are read and translated into proteins using the same genetic code across all organisms. This means a gene from a bacteria can be inserted into a plant or an animal and still be correctly translated.
* Similar mechanisms for DNA replication, transcription, and translation: The processes by which DNA is copied, transcribed into RNA, and translated into proteins are remarkably similar across all life forms.
While there are differences in specific genes and the overall complexity of genomes, the underlying principles of how genes function are shared. This universality makes it possible to transfer genes between organisms, a key aspect of genetic engineering.
