ORIGIN OF LIFE

According to the Boshongo people of central Africa, in the beginning, there was only darkness, water, and the great god Bumba. One day Bumba, in pain from a stomach ache, vomited up the sun. The sun dried up some of the water, leaving land. Still in pain, Bumba vomited up the moon, the stars, and then some animals. The leopard, the crocodile, the turtle, and finally, man.

7 Characteristics of Life Cellular organization Ordered Complexity Sensitivity (respond to stimuli) Growth, development & reproduction Energy utilization Homeostasis Evolutionary Adaptation

Origin of the Universe BIG BANG 13.8 BYA ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE ALL MATTER & ENERGY SUPERCONDENSED & THEN A CATACLISMIC EXPLOSION

BIG BANG 1st. Hydrogen formed 2nd. Helium formed

Today the Universe 98% Hydrogen 7.1 % Helium 0.1% Other elements

FORMATION OF THE GALAXIES Gravity

Galaxy Formation

Formation of the Solar System 4.6 Billion Years Ago

Formation of Core, Mantle, Crust & Atmosphere

Formation of Seas, Lakes, & Rivers Continents Formed

The Oldest Rocks 4.4 BYA

The First Fossils so far…… “Blue-green bacteria” in stromatolites 3.5 Billion Years Ago

Evidence Of Even Older Fossils Chemical Fossils in Greenland Chemical Fossils dated 3.8 BYA

Even earlier claims for life have just been made (Oct Even earlier claims for life have just been made (Oct. 19, 2015) for zircons with organic traces at 4.1 BYA in Western Australian’s Jack Hills

EARTH IS UNIQUELY SUITED FOR LIFE Right distance from the sun— the temperature is right Not too hot H20 -- Steam Not too cold H20 -- Ice Just right H20 -- Liquid

EARTH IS UNIQUELY SUITED FOR LIFE Right Size & Density so the gravity is right Not too small Atmosphere Not too large Atmosphere Just right Atmosphere with sunlight penetration In the “Goldilocks Zone”

FORMATION OF LIFE Hypotheses on the origin: 1) Divine Creation

FORMATION OF LIFE Hypotheses on the origin: 2) Spore “Theory” (Panspermia)

FORMATION OF LIFE Hypotheses on the origin: 2) Spore “Theory” (Panspermia) cont.’ Directed Panspermia “Aliens”

FORMATION OF LIFE Hypotheses on the origin: 3) Originated on Earth a) Spontaneous Generation Spallanzani’s Experiment

FORMATION OF LIFE Hypotheses on the origin: 3) Originated on Earth a) Spontaneous Generation Pasteur’s Experiment

FORMATION OF LIFE Hypotheses on the origin: 3) Originated on Earth b) Primary abiogenesis “Life came from inorganic chemicals” Oparin & Haldane

FORMATION OF LIFE: Primary Abiogenesis Chemical Evolution Biological Evolution 1) Inorganic chemicals 2) Organic chemicals 3) Interacting Chem. Sys. (reactions) 4) Reproducing molecules 5) Cells 6) Multicellular organisms

Primary Abiogenesis Experimental Evidence Miller & Urey’s Experiments 1953 & 1959 Note gasses: H2O NH3 CH4 H2

Primary Abiogenesis Experimental Evidence Miller & Urey’s Experiments 1953 & 1959 Produced Several organic molecules including amino acids Many other gas mixtures produce similar products

Primary Abiogenesis Experimental Evidence Miller & Urey’s Experiments 1953 & 1959 "Organic Soup"

Primary Abiogenesis Experimental Evidence Simple organic molecules have been detected in space. 130+ molecules detected including: Acetylene C2H2 Ammonia NH3 Formaldehyde H2CO Methane CH4 Anthracene C14H20 Pyrene C16H10

Primary Abiogenesis Experimental Evidence Meteorites have simple organic molecules Conclusion: It is easy to produce organic molecules from Inorganic molecules. Hypothesis is supported.

Mars Rover found 3-, 4- and 6-carbon chains of organic molecules Science March 27 2015 Chlorobenzene

Recent experiments mimicking the conditions of asteroid bombardment on a solution with the simple organic molecule formamide produced all of the RNA nucleotides: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil Science Dec 14, 2014

Chemicals formed in the atmosphere or space and with rained down on earth and collected in tide pools where further evolution occurred. Some scientists think that the earliest steps in evolution occurred in the hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean

Primary Abiogenesis Experimental Evidence Polymerization experiments Simple sugars Complex carbohydrates Amino Acids Proteins Nucleotides Nucleic Acids Fatty Acids Lipids & Glycerol

Primary Abiogenesis Experimental Evidence Polymerization can be accomplished easily by: Evaporation Freezing Heating Adsorption onto minerals & clays with catalytic properties Hypothesis is supported

Primary Abiogenesis Experimental Evidence Interacting Chemical Systems Coacervates= colloidal drops of organic materials in solution (Oparin) Coacervate Properties: “Feeding” Size of small cell Membrane Add enzymes—Molecular reactions Growth & division

Primary Abiogenesis Experimental Evidence Reproduction DNA & RNA both make copies of themselves using nucleotides = “feeding” & reproduction Competition for raw materials between molecules “Survival of the fittest & natural selection”

Primary Abiogenesis RNA WORLD? Organic Soup Pre-RNA World RNA World Autocatalytic RNA Protein DNA RNA Protein Perhaps: FIRST CELL Today’s Cells

We Have a Long Way to Go But scientists are now on the track to producing the first cell.

A SCIENTIST'S VERSION OF GENESIS