Chapter 14: Biogenesis

Biogenesis: life coming from life

Abiogenesis: life coming from non-life (spontaneous generation)

• 1680’s: Redi disproves spontaneous generation using flies

• 1780’s: Spallazani disproves spontaneous generation using broth
o People did not believe him. Why?
 Vital Force
• 1850’s: Pasteur defeats spontaneous generation using a swan
neck flask and broth
o Left it out for one year, yet no bacteria grew
o Allowed air (and vital force) to get into the flask but
nothing grew
o Other notable experiments: milk, wine, pox
o “Father of Bacteria”

Early Signs of Life:

• Earth (4.6 billion years ago (BYA)):
o High Temperatures
o Gas Cloud in Atmosphere
o Heavy Elements to the Core
o Lighter Elements to the Surface
• Earth (3.8 BYA):
o Cooler Temperatures
o Water Formed
o Atmosphere: Methane, Ammonia, Water, Hydrogen

• 1951: Dr. Miller and Dr. Urey (UC Berkeley) experimented

o Used closed flask with earth’s first atmosphere + UV light
+ electrical spark
o Produced urea + acetic acid + lactic acid + amino acid +
ATP + DNA parts
• All used or needed for life
• Did not create life

First Cells:
• Prokaryotes, Bacteria
• Heterotrophic, Fossils date back 3.4 BYA
• Anaerobic, Fission Reproduction
• Probably RNA based
• Eukaryotes appeared with nucleus, cell organelles, sexual
reproduction allowed evolution