The Origin and Early History of Life

Fundamental Properties of Life

ample availability of
hydrogen atoms
very little oxygen

cellular organization
sensitivity
growth
development
reproduction
regulation
homeostasis
heredity

Origin of Life Location

Origin of Life Hypotheses

Special creation
supernatural or divine origin
Extraterrestrial origin
Panspermia ("seeds" of life exist
already all over the Universe, that
life on Earth may have originated
through these "seeds", and that they
may deliver or have delivered life
to other habitable bodies)
Spontaneous origin
life originated from inanimate
materials

Miller-Urey Experiment 1953

Reducing Atmosphere

Oceans edge
bubble hypotheses
Under frozen seas
problematic due to necessary
conditions
Deep in Earths crust
byproduct of volcanic activity
Within clay
positively-charged clay

Life most likely emerged under hightemperature conditions.

Early atmosphere is often referred
to as a reducing atmosphere.
exact conditions unknown

attempted to reproduce early reducing

atmosphere and produce organic
compounds from inorganic materials
hydrogen-rich atmosphere
Liquid water
Temp below 100oC
Simulated lightening by
bombarding it with energy in the
form of sparks
- Succeeded in producing
larger Carbon based
compounds
- Later experiments produced
more than 30 Carbon
containing compound

Miller-Urey Experiment

Chemical Evolution

Cell Origin Theories

Ongoing debate concerning actual path

which came first?
RNA World - Molecules could not
have consistently formed without a
mechanism of heredity.
Protein World - Replication would
be impossible without enzymes.
Scientists have created in
lab synthetic nucleic acids
able to replicate
And make mistakes
(mutation)
Peptide-Nucleic Acid World - RNA
is too unstable, thus a precursor
must have existed.
Protein nucleic acid was
the basis of life

Bubble theories
Certain molecules spontaneously
form bubbles, particularly those
with hydrophobic regions.
would serve to shield
hydrophobic regions from
contact with water
supports oceans
edge scenario

Oparins Bubble Hypothesis

First bubble hypothesis 1930
Russian Alexander Oparin

Primary abiogenesis protobionts

(early chemical concentrating
bubbles) allowed chemical
complexity to develop
Many different bubble
scenarios have been
proposed.

 no agreement about
composition or how
the process occurre

Bubble Hypothesis - 1986

Earliest Cells

Microfossils have been found in rocks as

old as 2.5 billion years old.
resemble prokaryotes (greek
before nucleus)
lack nucleus of more
complex eukaryotes

First Eukaryotic Cells

Archaebacteria

extreme-condition prokaryotes
lack peptidoglycan in cell walls
Methanogens methane
producing
Anaerobic
extreme halophiles salt
lovers
extreme thermophiles
high temp lovers
thought to have split from Bacteria
2 bya.

Bacteria

strong cell walls

simpler gene structure
contains most modern prokaryotes
includes photosynthetic
bacteria
cyanobacteria

second major group of prokaryotes

Eukaryotes probably arose about 1.5 bya.

Internal membrane-bound
structures such as mitochondria and
chloroplasts are thought to have
evolved via endosymbiosis.
Energy-producing bacteria
were engulfed by larger
bacteria.
beneficial symbiotic
relationship
Sexual reproduction
Eukaryotic cells can reproduce
sexually, thus allowing for genetic
recombination.
Genetic variation is the raw
material necessary for
evolution.
Multicellularity

arisen many times among

eukaryotes

Endosymbiosis

Extraterrestrial Life

Universe has 1020 stars similar to our sun.

4

fosters specialization

Conditions may be such that life has evolved on other worlds in addition to our own.
ancient bacteria on Mars.
largest moon of Jupiter, Europa, covered with ice.
liquid water may be underneath.