ORIGIN OF LIFE

The origin of life, known as

abiogenesis, is distinct from evolution,
which deals with how life changes over
time the after its inception. The origin of
life involves a series of stages that may
have led to the formation of the first
simple life forms.
Biogenesis
Production of new living organisms or
organelles is called Biogenesis.
Sexual reproduction refers to the organisms that
receive half their genetic material from two parent
cells. Asexual reproduction refers to the organisms
that receive all their genetic material form one
single parent cell.
Prebiotic Chemistry
Life is thought to have arisen through a
gradual chemical evolution from simple
molecules to more complex ones. This
process took place in the prebiotic world,
where conditions on the early Earth
facilitated chemical reactions that produced
organic compounds.
Primordial Soup Hypothesis

a scientific theory that proposes a scenario for the origin

of life on Earth. It suggests that life emerged from a
"soup" of organic molecules in the early oceans of the
Earth around 3.5 to 4 billion years ago. The hypothesis
was first formulated by the Soviet biologist Alexander
Oparin in the 1920s and later expanded upon by British
scientist J.B.S. Haldane.
Miller-Urey Experiment
In 1953, Stanley Miller and Harold Urey conducted
an experiment simulating the conditions of early
Earth. They passed electrical sparks through a
mixture of gases that were believed to represent the
primitive atmosphere. This resulted in the formation
of amino acids, which are the building blocks of
proteins and essential components for life.
Hydrothermal Vents Theory
Another theory posits that life began at
hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. These
environments provide a rich source of chemicals and
energy necessary for synthesizing organic
molecules. The temperature gradients and mineral-
rich water spur chemical reactions that could lead to
self-replicating molecules.
RNA World Hypothesis
The RNA world hypothesis suggests that before DNA
and proteins became essential for life, ribonucleic acid
(RNA) played a crucial role. RNA is capable of
storing genetic information like DNA, but it can also
catalyze chemical reactions like proteins. Thus, RNA
may have been the original molecule for heredity and
catalysis, leading to the first simple organisms.
Lipid World Hypothesis
Lipids can spontaneously form vesicles or micelles,
which are structures that resemble cell membranes. The
lipid world hypothesis suggests that these structures
could have provided a compartment for biochemical
reactions to take place, isolated from the external
environment.
Panspermia

is an alternative theory suggesting that

life did not originate on Earth but was
brought here by comets, meteorites, or
interstellar dust particles carrying
microorganisms or organic compounds
from elsewhere in space.
Origin of life keywords
1.Abiogenesis: The
process by which living organisms arise naturally from non-
living matter. It is synonymous with the concept of spontaneous generation.
2.Panspermia: The hypothesis that life, or the key components necessary for
life, may have originated elsewhere in the universe and spread to Earth,
possibly through meteoroids, asteroids, or other celestial bodies.
3.RNA World Hypothesis: A hypothesis proposing that RNA (ribonucleic acid)
preceded DNA as the genetic material and played a crucial role in the early
evolution of life.
4.Vent Theory: A theory suggesting that life may haveHydrothermal
originated at deep-sea hydrothermal vents, where mineral-laden water provides
a unique environment for chemical reactions.
5.: A metabolic pathway that involves obtaining energy from inorganic
compounds and using carbon dioxide as a carbon source. Some propose this as
6.Miller-Urey Experiment: An experiment conducted by Stanley Miller and Harold
Urey in 1953, simulating the conditions of the early Earth to demonstrate that organic
molecules, such as amino acids, could be produced from inorganic precursors.
7.Protocells: Hypothetical structures that represent precursors to modern cells, believed
to have had some rudimentary form of cell-like organization.
8.Astrobiology: The interdisciplinary field that explores the potential for life beyond
Earth and seeks to understand the conditions necessary for life to originate and thrive.
9.Extremophiles:Organisms that thriv9Extremophilese in extreme environmental
conditions, such as high temperatures, acidity, or pressure. The study of extremophiles
provides insights into the possibility of life existing in diverse environments.
10.Chirality: The property of molecules that exist in mirror-image forms
(enantiomers). Chirality is important in the context of the origin of life, as living
organisms typically exhibit a specific handedness (homochirality) in their biomolecules.