The Origin of Life on Earth

Chemical Evolution = The study

of how life began
Heterotroph Theory: the first cells
were heterotrophs, organisms incapable
of making their own food
 Steps involved in the
heterotroph theory:
1. The Earth and its atmosphere
formed.
The atmosphere originated from outgassing of the
molten interior of the planet (from volcanoes).
Early atmosphere consisted of: CO, CO2, N2, S,
HCl, Water, HCN (hydrogen cyanide), LITTLE OR
NO OXYGEN!
 Steps involved in the
heterotroph theory:
2. The Primordial Seas formed. As
the Earth cooled gasses condensed to
produce the primordial seas which
consisted of water and minerals.
Steps involved in the
heterotroph theory:
3. Complex molecules were synthesized.
Energy catalyzed the formation of organic
molecules from inorganic molecules. An
organic soup forms.
Energy was provided by: UV light, lightning,
radioactivity, and heat
Complex molecules: acetic acid,
formaldehyde, and amino acids
 Oparin & Haldane independently
theorized that: simple molecules were
able to form only because oxygen was
absent
 Stanley Miller and Harold Urey:
simulation of primordial conditions;
recreated various organic molecules
including amino acids
Steps involved in the
heterotroph theory:
4. Polymers and self replicating
molecules were synthesized.
Monomers combine to form polymers
Some do this by way of the removal of water
molecules (Dehydration chemical reaction)
Proteinoids are abiotically produced
polypeptides. They can be experimentally
produced by allowing amino acids to dehydrate
on hot, dry substrates.
Steps involved in the
heterotroph theory:
5. Organic molecules were
concentrated and isolated into
Protobionts
Protobionts = the precursors of cells. They
were able to carry out chemical reactions, but
were unable to reproduce.
Microspheres and Coacervates are
experimentally produced Protobionts that
have some selectively permeable qualities.
Steps involved in the
heterotroph theory:
6. Primitive Heterotrophic
prokaryotes formed.
Organic soup = food source
Pathogenic bacteria mainly
Steps involved in the
heterotroph theory:
7. Primitive Autotrophic prokaryotes
were formed.
Probably resulted from a mutation in a
heterotroph
Cells now able to make their own food
Cyanobacteria
Steps involved in the
heterotroph theory:
8. Oxygen and the ozone layer
formed and abiotic chemical
evolution ended.
Oxygen was the by product of photosynthesis
UV light plus oxygen interaction produces
ozone layer
Ozone layer provides protection from damaging
UV light
 Steps involved in the
heterotroph theory:
9. Eukaryotes Formed (Endosymbiotic
Theory)
Eukaryotes originated from a symbiosis between
prokaryotes
Mitochondria, Chloroplasts, and other organelles took
up residence inside another prokaryote
 Evidence for Endosymbiotic
Theory
1. Mitochondria & Chloroplasts possess
their own DNA.
2. Ribosomes of Mitochondria and
Chloroplasts resemble those of bacteria.
3. Mitochondria and Chloroplasts
reproduce independently.
4. Thylakoid membranes of Chloroplasts
resemble the phosynthetic membranes of
cyanobacteria.
 The History of Life on Earth
The age of the Earth is estimated to be
around 4.5 Billion Years Old
The Oldest fossils (of ancient bacteria) date
back to about 3.5 Billion Years Ago
Geologic Time Scale = Earths history timetable

Eras = The largest blocks of geologic time

OLDEST ERA Pre-

Cambrian
Paleozoic
Mesozoic
NEWEST ERA Cenozoic
 PRECAMBRIAN ERA
By far the longest geologic Era
Lifeforms include:
Simple Prokaryotes (Bacteria)
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
 PALEOZOIC ERA
Characterized by the emergence of
Eukaryotes
Burgess Shale = largest collection of
Cambrian Period fossils
Lifeforms include:
Invertebrates = ocean dwellers (trilobites)
jawless fish
bony fish
amphibians, reptiles
 Chambered Nautilus
Trilobites

Jawless
Unlobed Fin
Fish
 MESOZOIC ERA
Characterized by the invasion of lifeforms
onto land
Cone-bearing plants (Gymnosperms)
Insects
reptiles abundant
dinosaurs dominate the land
first mammals
flowering plants (Angiosperms)
Gymnosperm Flying Insects
First Mammals Angiosperm
 CENOZOIC ERA
Characterized by the rise and dominance of
mammals
Primates are the dominant mammal
Humans first appear

This is the geologic Era that we are currently

in.
 Smaller Increments of Geologic
Time
ERA
PERIOD
EPOCH (Only in the Cenozioic Era)
What Marks The End Of Geologic
Eras, Periods, or Epochs?
Mass Extinction Events = loss of a large
percentage of Earths population
Ordovician, Devonian, Permian (96%),
Triassic, Cretaceous
Distinct Environmental changes are often
evident as well
What if we compressed the entire
Earth's history down into one 24
hour day?
4.5 Billion Years = 1 day
12:01a.m. = Earth forms
5:00 a.m. = first life; bacteria
4:00 p.m. = first eukaryotes
10:00 p.m. = life on land
11:40 p.m. = end of the dinosaurs
11:59 p.m. = first humans
 The Fossil Record
Fossil = any preserved record of a once
living organism
The fossil record of life on Earth is
extremely incomplete!
 How do fossils form?
1. Sedimentary Rock - sediment gets
compressed into rock by intense pressure
over time
2. Petrification - dissolved minerals replace
organic tissues
3. Casts - imprints filled in with mud, ash,
sand
How do we determine the age of
fossils?
1. Relative Dating - based on the fossils
position within a layer of rock
2. Half-life Method - the amount of time
that it takes for half of the atoms in a
sample of an element to undergo radioactive
decay and be reduced to half of their
original amount
 Half-Life Methods
Potassium --> Argon = half life of 1.3
Billion Years
Carbon 14 - half life is 5,600 years
Uranium --> Lead = 4.5 Billion Years

20 g U -----> 10g U -----> 5 g U

0g Pb -----> 10g Pb -----> 15g Pb