ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Conserved sequence

When scientists study living things like animals or plants, they often look at their genes. Genes are like little instruction manuals that tell the organism how to grow and function.

Sometimes, scientists notice that certain parts of the genes are the same between different organisms. These parts are called conserved sequences.

Think of it like a story book. Let's say there's a paragraph in the first chapter that talks about the main character's family. Later on in the book, you might see that same paragraph again, because it's an important part of the story. The same goes for conserved sequences in genes – they are important parts of the "story" of how living things work.

Scientists study conserved sequences because they can help them understand how different organisms are related to each other, or how a certain trait evolved over time. Conserved sequences can be found in many different organisms, from tiny bacteria to big whales!

Overall, conserved sequences are clues that help scientists piece together the story of life on Earth.