Life On Earth

Two theories that attempt to explain the presence of organic molecules on early Earth are
Panspermia and Chemosynthetic theory.

Chemosynthetic theory was first hypothesised by Haldanne and Operum but later tested by Urey and
Miller.

Urey and Miller set up a closed system to simulate early Earth. They included electrical discharges to
simulate lightning. They left their apparatus and found that it collected amino acids. The types of
amino acids could be altered by changing the composition of gases in the closed system.

Haldane and Oparins hypothesis was accepted that early Earth did have the right conditions needed
to generate organic compounds from inorganic sources.

Panspermia is the theory that organic molecules were delivered to Earth from outer space. This
theory is supported by evidence of organic molecules found in meteorites that have been examined
on Earth.

The earliest life forms believed to have evolved were procaryotes. These are simple cells without
membrane bound organelles. Today they exist as 2 distinct groups Archaea and Euebacteria. Archaea
are said to resemble the earliest life forms.

The first procaryotes were said to be heterotrophs and obtained their nutrients from molecules
floating in their surroundings. It was some time before autotrophic procaryotes evolved. These
organisms had a significant impact on the Earths atmosphere as they released oxygen. Prior to this
all oxygen was bound up in other molecules.

Oxygen was highly reactive and began to be used up just as quick as it was being made. Evidence for
these reactions are seen today in Banded Iron Formations. If the bottom layer of rock in a BIF is
radiometrically dated we can obtain an idea of when autotrophic procaryotes first evolved.

Modern day examples of autotrophic procaryotes are Cyanobacteria which are commonly found in
colonies called stromatolites. Australia has some of the oldest examples of stromatolites dated over 3
billion years old.

Once all oxygen had reacted with substances in the ocean it could finally accumulate in the
atmosphere. Oxygen would travel high up into the stratosphere where UV light would split it into 2
oxygen atoms. An oxygen molecule would react with an oxygen atom and form ozone. This reaction
absorbs huge amounts of ultraviolet light. This reaction occurring in the ozone layer prevents
harmful radiation reaching the Earth's surface. The presence of an ozone layer enabled life to leave
water and colonised land.

With the presence of oxygen due to autotrophic organisms a new form of respiration could evolve ie
aerobic respiration. This new metabolic process was far more efficient at producing ATP and hence
living things could evolve more sophisticated adaptations eg greater mobility/size etc. With carbon
dioxide being removed due to photosynthesis global temperatures were also reduced making Earth
a more habitable place.
In order to understand past life scientists depend on fossils. They are any remains of once living life
forms. They can take the form of casts, moulds, prints, bones and actual remains. In order for
fossilisation to take place certain conditions are required . These include a quick burial, absence of
oxygen, little to no tectonic disturbance and hard parts. These conditions are not always met hence
fossilisation is a rare event.

When dealing with early life forms the problem with our fossil records is that we dont have a lot of
fossil evidence. This is generally due to the absence of hard parts in early life forms. Any evidence
that we do have of early life is from microfossils and stromatolites.