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Origin of Life
Earth 4.6 BYA hot, barren, little liquid water, geologically active Atmosphere CH4, NH3, H2O, H2, CO2 Only a trace of free oxygen (reducing environment)
Over time, the earths crust cooled liquid water becomes more common Elements necessary for life . (C, N, H, O, P, S) are dissolved in water
Chemical Evolution
Simple Molecules More Complex Molecules
H O H H
H C O N H H O H H H C H H
Carbohydrates
Fatty Acids
Amino Acids
Organic Molecules Polymerization RNA, protein Proteinoid Microspheres (Protocells) Metabolism (Catalysis) Cells
First Living Thing? 3.8 BYA Anaerobic, thermophilic, heterotrophic Prokaryote (Archaea)
Autotrophy
PhototrophsCO2 + H2O + energy CH2O + O2 use light energy to fix carbon production of O2 ! Changes atmosphere Chemotrophs eg. Hydrothermal Vent Communities use chemical energy to fix carbon and nitrogen CO2 + H2S + energy CH2O + thiosulfate
Proteinoid Microspheres
Similar to protocells Protocells
Reproduce Natural selection favored those with the most efficient replicating systems
RNA DNA
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Eukaryotes -2 BYA Endosymbiont Theory L. Margulis (1981) Polyphyletic (originated more than once)
Foraminiferan
Cambrian Explosion
Cambrian Explosion (543-510 MYA) multicellular organisms flourish and diversify Burgess Shale quarry British Columbia Late Cambrian/ Ordovician
Characteristics of Animals
Fig. 2.16