12. Yeast: Microbial Mirroring
Surprisingly, baker’s yeast shares approximately 31% of its genes with humans. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) Many fundamental cellular processes, such as DNA repair and energy production, are nearly identical between the two, highlighting a deep evolutionary connection. This genetic similarity makes yeast a valuable model organism for medical research, enabling scientists to study human diseases and test potential treatments. For more information, see the article in Science: (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)