Evolution and Principles of

Systematics
Lecture 1
Theories on the Origin of
Life
Course code: ZOL-510
Credit hours: 4(3-1)
Teacher’s name: Sheeba Batool
Zoology, GCWUF
ORIGIN OF LIFE
INTRODUCTION
Several attempts have been made from time to time to explain
the origin of life on earth.
As a result, there are several theories which offer their own
explanation on the possible mechanism of origin of life.

Following are some of them:

• Theory of Special Creation

• Theory of Spontaneous Generation
• Theory of Biogenesis
• Theory of Biochemical Evolution
• Theory of Panspermia
• Deep sea hydrothermal vent theory
 EARTH’S EARLY
ATMOSPHERE
4.6 Billion Years Old
Geologic evidence
shows Earth
formed 4.6 BYA

Early Atmosphere
Probably
contained CO2,
CO, Nitrogen,
Ammonia, Methane
But, No Oxygen!
(wouldn’t support
life)

3.8 BYA
THEORY OF SPONTANEOUS
GENERATION
I. Early Theory
A.Spontaneous Generation
(Abiogenesis)- The hypothesis that
life arises regularly from non-
living
II. Experiments Thatthing
Helped to Disprove Spontaneous Generation

A.Italian physician and poet,

Francesco Redi (1668)
1. Hypothesis: Maggots arose
from tiny, non-visible eggs laid
on meat
2. Procedures:
a)Put pieces of meat in several
jars, leaving half open to
the air
3. Results:
a) After a few days, meat in all jars spoiled
and maggots were found only on the meat in
the uncovered jars
b) One of the first documented experiments to
use a control!
II. Experiments That Helped to Disprove Spontaneous
Generation cont.
B. French scientist, Louis Pasteur (1859)
The French Academy of Sciences held a contest for
the best experiment either proving or disproving
spontaneous generation
1. Hypothesis: Microorganisms do not arise from
meat broth
2. Procedures:
a) Place meat broth in a flask with a long,
curved neck. (This permitted air to enter,
but trapped dust and other airborne
particles)
b) Boil the flask thoroughly to kill any
microorganisms
3. Results:
a) After a year, no microorganisms could be found in
the broth!
b) Pasteur then removed the
curved neck, permitting
dust and other particles
to enter. In just one
day, the flask contained
microorganisms!
c) Microorganisms had
clearly entered the flask
with the dust particles
from the air
III. Theories Explaining the Formation of
Life

A. The Formation of Complex Molecules: the

Miller/Urey Experiment (1953)

1. Millerand Urey simulated the

conditions of Earth’s early
atmosphere and oceans, adding energy
to simulate the lightning that was
believed to be commonplace
2. Afterone week, 10-15% of the carbon
had turned into organic compounds,
DRAWBACKS OF UREY MILLER
EXPERIMENT

• By examining rocks ―dated‖ to be 3.7 billion years old,

geologists determined that earth had an oxygenic atmosphere.

• Oxygen is an ―oxidizing‖ agent and would inhibit chemical

evolution.

• Now it is thought that the atmosphere of the early earth was

not rich in methane and ammonia — essential ingredients in
Miller's experiments.
III. Theories Explaining the Formation of
Life cont.

B. Molecules from Space

1. Many of the compounds produced by the
Miller/Urey experiment are known to
exist in space.
2. If these compounds can survive the
harshness of space, perhaps they were
present when earth initially formed.
3. Organic molecules could have also been
brought to earth by space debris.
 IV. Current Theories
A. The Formation of Complex Molecules
1. Collections of these molecules
tend to gather together into tiny
round droplets known as coacervates
a) In the laboratory, these droplets
have been shown to grow and
divide!
b) Coacervates are not living cells,
but their existence suggests ways
in which the first cell may have Figure 16.9

formed.
c) Early oceans are the perfect
IV. Current Theories

B. The First True

Cells
1.They were
prokaryotic (lacked
nucleus), anaerobic
(survived in absence
of O2), heterotrophs
that resemble types
of bacteria alive
today
IV. Current Theories
C. The Evolution of
Photosynthesis
1. Early heterotrophic bacteria
fed on organic molecules,
releasing CO2 as a waste
product.
2. 3.5 billion years ago,
photosynthesis evolved that Living
stromatol
was mostly anaerobic, ites
releasing sulfur as a waste still
product. exist in
Shark
3. Natural selection favored Bay,
organisms that could harness Australia
energy from the readily
available sun
 V. The Road to Modern Organisms
A. Oxygen and Life
1. Oxygen began to increase in the atmosphere about
2.3 bya
2. Oxygen was poisonous to early anaerobic organisms
and many either died off or remained
Anaerobic
underground/underwater. Earth was bacteria such as
transformed!
these now live only deep within
the ocean , deep in mud and in
other places where the
atmosphere does not reach.
Organisms using Oxygen
began to evolve and
dominate the planet!
V. The Road to Modern Organisms
B. Eukaryotes and the Origin of
Complex Cells
1. Eukaryotic organisms with a true
nucleus, DNA and membrane-bound
organelles evolved between 1.4 and
1.6 bya
2. Eukaryoteslikely evolved because of
endosymbiosis – one bacterium
engulfing another and passing that
structure on
V. The Road to Modern Organisms
C. Sexual Reproduction and
Multicellular Life
1.Multi-celled organisms are
thought to have evolved when
single-celled organisms
stacked together to share
the duties of life
2.The origin of sexual
reproduction rapidly
increased the rate of early
evolution
3.Genes and traits began
shuffling and combining in
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

– In April 2011, researchers in Italy found that if they mixed formamide, a

simple chemical present in space, with material from a meteorite, and then
heated the mixture, that they produced nucleic acids (building blocks of
DNA and RNA), the amino acid glycine, and a precursor to sugar.

– In February 2010 scientists at the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego

announced that they have synthesized RNA enzymes, known as ribozymes,
that can replicate themselves without the help of any proteins or other
cellular components.

– In May 2009, a team led by John Sutherland, a chemist at the University of

Manchester in England discovered how the basic nucleotides (building
blocks) of RNA could spontaneously assemble . He formed the RNA
nucleotide ribocytidine phosphate from cyano-acetylene.
Summary
• All the evidence gathered thus far has revealed a great deal about the origin
of life, but there is still much to learn.
• Numerous scenarios have been explored for many years, but there is still a
large gap between what is known and what is unknown.
• Because of the enormous length of time and the tremendous change that
has occurred since then, much of the evidence relevant to origins has been
lost and we may never know certain details.
• Nevertheless, many of the gaps in our knowledge (gaps that seemed
unbridgeable just 20 years ago) have been filled in recent years, and
continuing research and new technologies hold the promise of more insights.
REFERENCES
• StrickbergerW Monroe (2000), Evolution, 3rd edition, Jones and Bartlett
Publishers.
• Arora P Mohan . (2000), Evolutionary Biology ,3rd edition, Himalaya
Publishing House
• http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/03/05/exclusive-nasa-scientistsclaims-
evidence-alien-life meteorite/#ixzz1cvC7Bge8
• http://www.smashinglists.com/top-10-theories-on-beginning-of-life-onearth/
• http://mannaismayaadventure.wordpress.com/2011/06/24/
• http://www.tutorvista.com/content/biology/biology-iii/origin-life/originlife-
theories.php
• http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/03/962923/-Revolutionary-
Science:-Hydrothermal-Vents-and-the-Origins-of-Life
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_flx26bU0Q&feature=related