Origin of Life

Question 1

When did life first evolve on Earth?

Answer 1

3.5 - 4 billion years ago

Question 2

What 4 stages did life likely evolve from non-living matter?

Answer 2

small organic molecules -> polymers -> protocells -> cell!

Question 3

What were some characteristics of Earth’s early atmosphere?

Answer 3

much hotter than it is today
made up of nitrogen, CO2, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide

Question 4

What is the Thermal Vent Hypothesis?

Answer 4

there are hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean that emit carbon monoxide, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, and when those gases pass over iron and nickel, it creates organic molecules

Question 5

What is the Seeded Earth Hypothesis?

Answer 5

asteroids/meteorites have been confirmed to contain some organic molecules so some say that when they first crashed on Earth, they may have seeded the organic compounds necessary for life to evolve

Question 6

What is the Panspermia Hypothesis?

Answer 6

that life evolved somewhere else, and bacteria-like protists were carried to Earth by a comet or meteorite
- this is supported by the fact that glycerin and phosphorous were found in a comet