Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
(presentation mode).
Guidepost
This chapter is either unnecessary or critical, depending on our point of view. If we believe that astronomy is the study of the physical universe above the clouds, then this chapter does not belong here. But if we believe that astronomy is the study of our position in the universe, not only our physical position but also our role as living beings in the origin and evolution of the universe, then everything else in this book is just preparation for this chapter. Astronomy is the only science that truly acts as a mirror. In studying the universe up there, we learn what we are down here. Astronomy is not really about stars, galaxies, and planets; it is about us.
Outline
I. The Nature of Life A. The Physical Basis of Life B. Information Storage and Duplication C. Modifying the Information II. The Origin of Life A. The Origin of Life on Earth B. Geologic Time C. Life in Our Solar System D. Life in Other Planetary Systems III. Communication with Distant Civilizations A. Travel Between the Stars B. Radio Communication C. How Many Inhabited Worlds?
The Tobacco Mosaic Virus contains a single strand of RNA, about 0.1 mm long
Basic building blocks are four Amino acids: Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, and Thymine
Information is encoded in the order in which those amino acids are integrated in the DNA molecule.
In the course of cell division, the DNA strands in the nucleus (chromosomes) are duplicated by splitting the double-helix strand up and replacing the open bonds with the corresponding amino acids
Process must be sufficiently accurate, but also capable of occasional minor mistakes to allow for evolution.
Best-known fossils from the Cambrian period: Trilobites. All known fossils from the Cambrian period are from sea creatures.
No traces of life on land until ~ 400 million years ago.
Experiment produced some of the fundamental building blocks of life: amino acids, fatty acids, and urea.
Water (oceans), primitive atmosphere gases (hydrogen, ammonia, methane), and energy from electric discharges (lightning).
Early oceans on Earth were probably filled with a rich mixture of organic compounds: the Primordial Soup
Chemical evolution leads to the formation and survival of the most stable of the more complex compounds.
Formation of Cells
First cell membranes may have formed before the beginning of life: Single amino acids can be assembled into long protein-like molecules, which form microspheres when they cool in water.
Cell membranes
Geologic Time
In geologic terms, higher life forms, in particular mammals and humans, have evolved only very recently.
Humans have existed for only ~ 3 million years.
Earth Calendar
Atmosphere (to avoid rapid vaporization of water; gasses needed for organic compounds) Moderate temperatures (keep water liquid; avoid disintegration of organic compounds; activate complex chemical reactions)
Time for life to evolve from simple organic compounds into higher life forms: several billion years.
Interstellar Communications
Even for radio communication: Long answer times due to light-travel time.
Messages can be arranged in blocks of certain length that is a product of two prime numbers Only two ways to arrange them in a rectangle.
SETI program is highly controversial because of the uncertain prospects of positive results.
Drake Equation
New Terms
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) amino acid protein enzyme RNA (ribonucleic acid) chromosome gene natural selection mutant Cambrian period Miller experiment primordial soup chemical evolution stromatolite life zone water hole SETI Drake equation
Discussion Questions
1. What would you change in the Arecibo message if humanity lived on Mars instead of Earth? 2. What do you think it would mean if decades of careful searches for radio signals for extraterrestrial intelligence turned up nothing?
Quiz Questions
1. Which element is the physical basis for life chemistry on Earth? a. Hydrogen. b. Helium. c. Oxygen. d. Carbon. e. Silicon.
Quiz Questions
2. On Earth why is carbon-based life more successful than silicon-based life? a. Silicon molecules from rings rather than chains. b. Carbon molecule chains are stronger and more stable. c. Most of the silicon on Earth is locked up in silicate rocks. d. Carbon molecule chains can store, extract, and utilize energy. e. Silicon molecule chains require a higher temperature to be stable.
Quiz Questions
3. How are the instructions for life stored in DNA molecules? a. As a sequence of protons and electrons. b. As Digital Numeric Analogs (DNA). c. As a sequence of base pairs. d. In base ten code. e. In binary code.
Quiz Questions
4. How many different bases (A, C, etc.) make up the base pairs of DNA molecules? a. 2. b. 4. c. 23. d. 26. e. 52.
Quiz Questions
5. When a cell divides, how does a DNA molecule duplicate its stored information for the two new cells? a. The D, N, and A are highlighted, copied, and then pasted into the new molecule. b. The original DNA molecule lines up with the new blank cell nucleus and burns a copy of itself into the new cell. c. The DNA molecule divides along the long dimension of the ladder, splitting the base pairs. Corresponding new bases attach to each half to form two new identical DNA molecules. d. The DNA molecule places its information in temporary storage, in RNA molecules that later reinstall the information into the two new cell nuclei. e. A tightly wound 1.5 meter segment of the DNA molecule containing about 4.5 billion base pairs breaks off and goes into the new cell nucleus, as a duplicate copy of the entire sequence of base pairs.
Quiz Questions
6. How can the instructions stored in DNA molecules be changed? a. By chance mismatching of base pairs during cell division. b. By exposure of reproductive cells to radioactive isotopes. c. By exposure of reproductive cells to cosmic rays. d. By cutting the DNA and adding base pairs. e. All of the above.
Quiz Questions
7. Why must the DNA instructions change for a species to survive? a. Without changes, the DNA instructions will degrade. b. Without variety some species will die of boredom. c. To produce mutants for experimentation. d. To adapt to changes in the environment. e. To create larger and stronger life forms.
Quiz Questions
8. How do the instructions stored in a DNA molecule at the nucleus of a cell get out to where they are needed to conduct the business of life? a. DNA molecules transport the information throughout the cell. b. The instructions are copied and transported by RNA molecules. c. The information is not needed at any location other than the cell nucleus. d. Short strands of DNA sequences break loose and follow outward-flowing currents. e. None of the above.
Quiz Questions
9. What evidence do we have that life on Earth began in the sea? a. The base pairs of DNA molecules sequences always begin with base C. b. The oldest fossils are of the remains of ocean creatures. c. About 75% of Earth's surface is covered with water. d. Fish are more primitive than mammals. e. Water is the best common solvent.
Quiz Questions
10. What was the significance of the Miller-Urey experiment? a. It was the first time that humans created life. b. It verified the suspected conditions of primeval Earth. c. It formed new amino acids that had not been found before. d. It formed proteins in simulated conditions of primeval Earth. e. It shows that complex organic molecules can form naturally.
Quiz Questions
11. What is chemical evolution? a. The process of binding molecules together to form progressively more complex molecules that cannot reproduce themselves. b. The process of forming progressively more complex life forms that derive their energy from sources other than sunlight. c. The evolution of life that has occurred since the first cell divided and reproduced itself. d. The development of the periodic table. e. The process that forms stromatolites.
Quiz Questions
12. How may intelligence have begun? a. By species developing multiple escape strategies. b. By developing an external skeleton for protection. c. By developing lungs for respiration. d. By developing the ability to make and use tools. e. By collecting the seeds of wild plants and planting them for later harvest.
Quiz Questions
13. Why do we think that liquid water is necessary for the origin of life? a. Water is the best common solvent. b. Amino acids can easily form in water. c. Amino acids need a medium in which to link together to form proteins. d. Organisms need a medium to transport nutrients and waste. e. All of the above.
Quiz Questions
14. Other than Earth, where in the solar system is the most likely place to find life? a. Earth's moon. b. Mercury. c. Mars. d. Europa. e. Titan.
Quiz Questions
15. If a planet is to remain in the life zone of a G or K main sequence star for 4 to 5 billion years, it must form near _____ of the life zone. a. the outer edge b. the middle c. the inner edge d. Either a or b above. e. Either b or c above.
Quiz Questions
16. Why are upper main sequence stars unlikely sites for intelligent civilizations? a. The short lifetime of such stars allows little time for intelligent life to evolve. b. These stars are too hot for life to evolve on a planet that is 1 AU away. c. Upper main sequence stars are very rare. d. Both a and b above. e. All of the above.
Quiz Questions
17. Why do we suspect that travel between stars is nearly impossible for intelligent life forms? a. The distance between stars in the disk of our galaxy is typically several light years. b. The maximum speed that can ever be approached is the speed of light. c. To accelerate to and from high speeds requires a tremendous amount of fuel. d. Both a and b above. e. All of the above.
Quiz Questions
18. Why do SETI programs only observe at wavelengths between 1 and 30 centimeters?
a. The first commercial radio stations transmitted in this range of wavelengths, and we expect that any communicating extraterrestrial that has picked up our early signals will attempt to contact us at the same wavelength. b. Funding for SETI projects is so low that military surplus radar antennae that operate at this range of wavelengths are all that can be afforded. c. We expect that intelligent beings must have feet the size of ours, and thus would communicate at wavelengths around this natural unit of length. d. At wavelengths longer than 30 cm our galaxy emits a lot of interference, and at wavelengths less than 1 cm our atmosphere is opaque. e. The FCC reserves this range of wavelengths for SETI programs.
Quiz Questions
19. Where is the water hole that we suspect is a good place to find extraterrestrials? a. Devils Tower. b. Roswell New Mexico. d. At the poles of Mercury. e. Beneath the frozen icy crust of Europa. c. Between 18-cm and 21-cm wavelengths.
Quiz Questions
20. Which variable in the modified Drake equation would be likely to give us the greatest difficulty in estimating an accurate and precise value? a. The number of planets per star that lie in the life zone for longer than 4 billion years. b. The fraction of a star's life during which a technological society survives. c. The fraction of life forms that evolve to intelligence. d. The fraction of suitable planets on which life begins. e. The fraction of stars with planets.
Answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. d b c b c e d c b e 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. a a e c a a e d e b