What is the Relationship between behavior and survival? What is the Relationship between behavior and survival? How did this dictate the diversity of organisms? How did this dictate the diversity of organisms? Do these diverse organisms have anything in common with me? Do these diverse organisms have anything in common with me?

What was the early Earth like and how did life come about? What was the early Earth like and how did life come about?

Big Bang: The beginning of the universe began with an explosion that sent energy and matter in all directions. (1927 Belgian Priest Georges Lemaître) Big Bang: The beginning of the universe began with an explosion that sent energy and matter in all directions. (1927 Belgian Priest Georges Lemaître)

Formation of Earth 4.6 billion years ago Established age through radiometric dating Half Life: period of time it takes unstable atoms undergoing radioactive decay to decrease by half Radiometric dating: Uses radioactive decay of isotopes by calculating half life

Radioactive Decay IsotopeHalf Life (years) Carbon -145,730 Uranium ,000,000 Potassium – 401,250,000,000 Uranium- 2384,500,000,000

Early Earth Q: Could we have survived in the Early Earth? A: NO!! Very harsh conditions

Primitive Atmosphere Composed of hydrogen (H 2 ), nitrogen (N 2 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), water vapor (H 2 O) and carbon monoxide (CO) Maybe even some ammonia (NH 3 ) and methane (CH 4 ) Oxygen (O 2 ), is not present in a free form!!

Harsh Conditions Anaerobic = no O 2 Interior of the Earth was very hot = many active volcanoes High amounts of the sun’s UV light covered the Earth = harmful to DNA Intense lightning

Where did life come from? Some theories… Divine Creation: Life on Earth was put here by some divine force commonly thought of as God or gods. Divine Creation: Life on Earth was put here by some divine force commonly thought of as God or gods. Extraterrestrial Origins: Life came from someplace outside of Earth, such as a fallen meteorite or asteroid. Extraterrestrial Origins: Life came from someplace outside of Earth, such as a fallen meteorite or asteroid.

Primordial soup theory: Primordial soup theory: In the soup hypothesis, all the elements needed for the construction of nucleic acids were drifting around in the early waters—primordial soup—and atmosphere of earth. The addition of energy, in the form of lightning, catalyzed the chemical reaction that joined them together. Theories of How Life Began: Did the First Cells Form in a Soup, Sandwich, or Pizza? a37802#ixzz1G8UOV42G Theories of How Life Began: Did the First Cells Form in a Soup, Sandwich, or Pizza? a37802#ixzz1G8UOV42G

Life came from a number of chemical reactions starting from nonliving matter or chemicals Life came from a number of chemical reactions starting from nonliving matter or chemicals

Non-living Chemicals to Organic Molecules First hypothesized by Russian Scientist A.I. Operin. First hypothesized by Russian Scientist A.I. Operin. Energy from volcano eruptions, lightning and solar radiation allowed for chemical reactions and formation of new organic macromolecules Energy from volcano eruptions, lightning and solar radiation allowed for chemical reactions and formation of new organic macromolecules Miller-Urey experiment helped Miller-Urey experiment helped show that this was possible. show that this was possible.

gasses from primitive atmosphere gasses from primitive atmosphere introduced to electrical sparks (lightning). introduced to electrical sparks (lightning). Electrons jump forming organic molecules Electrons jump forming organic molecules

Genetic Information “RNA world” “RNA world” –Can form spontaneously –Can replicate itself Catalyzed the formation of protein synthesis Catalyzed the formation of protein synthesis

Cellular Organization Small cellular looking formations called microspheres Small cellular looking formations called microspheres –Made from the joining of organic molecules –Have selectively permeable membranes –Store and release energy

First Cells Anaerobic, heterotrophic Prokaryotes. Anaerobic, heterotrophic Prokaryotes. Why would autotrophs eventually have an advantage over these heterotrophs? Why would autotrophs eventually have an advantage over these heterotrophs?

Autotrophs make an appearance… Archaea, unicellular organisms, undergo chemosynthesis obtaining energy from the oxidation of sulfur. Archaea, unicellular organisms, undergo chemosynthesis obtaining energy from the oxidation of sulfur.

First Eukaryotes Around 2 billion years ago, a small aerobic prokaryote was engulfed by a larger, Anaerobic prokaryote making the eukaryote. The environment was beneficial for both.

To sum it up… The universe is between 10 and 20 billion years old, and the common accepted age is 15 billion years. This is a very long time. To appreciate its depth, we'll map the history of the universe into one of our twelve-month calendar years. Our cosmic year begins with the formation of the universe at midnight. Although a lot goes on in the first few months, our galaxy, the Milky Way, doesn't form until May 1 and our solar system is absent until around September 9. Earth forms on September 14 and life originates in late September or early October. The Eukaryotes, the first cells with nuclei, are flourishing by mid-November but most of what we know about the history of life occurs in December. The universe is between 10 and 20 billion years old, and the common accepted age is 15 billion years. This is a very long time. To appreciate its depth, we'll map the history of the universe into one of our twelve-month calendar years. Our cosmic year begins with the formation of the universe at midnight. Although a lot goes on in the first few months, our galaxy, the Milky Way, doesn't form until May 1 and our solar system is absent until around September 9. Earth forms on September 14 and life originates in late September or early October. The Eukaryotes, the first cells with nuclei, are flourishing by mid-November but most of what we know about the history of life occurs in December. December opens with an increase in oxygen in our atmosphere, a by product of oxygen-producing algae that destroy themselves by overproducing oxygen. The first worms appear in mid-December, and plants begin colonizing the land around December 20. Life enters middle age on Christmas and dinosaurs dominate the next few days. The first primates appear on December 29th but the first humans don't develop until late evening on the last day of the year, near 10:30 PM. Agriculture is invented with just 40 seconds before midnight, Rome falls with three seconds remaining, and recent history makes up the last second. We are beginning the second year as newcomers to the universe. December opens with an increase in oxygen in our atmosphere, a by product of oxygen-producing algae that destroy themselves by overproducing oxygen. The first worms appear in mid-December, and plants begin colonizing the land around December 20. Life enters middle age on Christmas and dinosaurs dominate the next few days. The first primates appear on December 29th but the first humans don't develop until late evening on the last day of the year, near 10:30 PM. Agriculture is invented with just 40 seconds before midnight, Rome falls with three seconds remaining, and recent history makes up the last second. We are beginning the second year as newcomers to the universe. n_lecture.html n_lecture.html

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