Note, the knowledge in this section is

different from in the rest of Life Sciences.

The knowledge can not be tested and
verified.
More based on inference than deduction
i.e. from specific to general not vice versa
as in the rest of science.
 We have just learned about the diversity
that exists on earth today…

 But how did it start?

 When did it start?
 Was it all at once or little by little?

 Till today, there is no definite answer among

scientists. It is all just speculation.
 Scientists try to work out the History of life
based on events such as an increase in
the O2 levels - cooling of the earth –
various geological events – and mainly, it
is based on fossil evidence.
 Scientists think that approx 4 – 6 billion years ago,
there was hardly any oxygen in the atmosphere.
 This lack of O2, allowed the gasses present to form
organic molecules – building blocks of life.
 The first life forms evolved which were prokayotes
approx. 3.5 bya. Since they did not need oxygen, the
conditions were perfect. Anaerobic bacteria
 Between 3.5 – 2.5 bya, different types of bacteria
began to develop (cyanobacteria/blue-green
bacteria) which were able to photosynthesise.
 These organisms flourished and filled the atmosphere
with oxygen.
 Once sufficient oxygen was generated, this lead to
the development of aerobic organisms.
 Since then, the increase in oxygen levels led to the
evolution of different life forms and a large diversity in
these life forms
 Ice ages are periods during
which the earth was experiencing
extremely cold temperatures.
 4 major ice haves have been recorded;
› 700 mya
› 320 mya
› 286 mya
› 3 mya – current, but ending very soon
 During these periods, glaciers form which lead to
large scale extinction.
 Continental drift, plate tectonics and reduced
CO2 level could have led to the ice ages
 According to the theory of continental drift,
the continents were originally 1 solid land
mass – Pangea
 Pangea then broke up approx 225 – 200 mya
– Laurasia and Gondwanaland
 This has been supported by the fact that
Antarctica has large coal deposits.
 Biogeography refers to the study of the past
and present distribution of individual species.
 Similar plant and animal species have been
found in South America and Africa – proof
that these two were once joined.
 Many other similar evidences between other
neighbouring continents.
 The earth is made up of may plates
underneath the crust of the earth.
 Floating on the hot liquid mantle which
allow them to move.
 These plates sometimes move upwards
causing the elevation of some
continents. – linked to ice ages
 Also causes the formation of mountains
and earth quakes.
 Many scientists believe that volcanic activity
was the cause of three of the mass
extinctions that have been recorded.
 Different theories as to how it caused the
extinctions.
 A fossil is the remains of ancient life forms that
have been preserved in rock, sap, tar or ice.
 The study of fossils – palaeontology
 The finding of fossils tells us very interesting
stories about how the earth was when that
organism was alive.
 Coiled molluscs
 Marine
 Extinct 67 m.y.a.
 Fossils were found in the Makhatini flats in
Northern KZN.
 Marine molluscs
 2 shells that can open and close
 Fossils were found in the Makhatini flats in
Northern KZN.

 Present day bivalves

 Arthropods
 Marine
 Extinct 250 m.y.a.
 Fossils were found in the Karoo, also a
whale fossil was found in the karoo
 Fossils give us information on the history of
the Earth.
 Some areas have changed in conditions.
 Evidence for changing sea level and rise
and fall of the land
 Some organisms from the past no longer
exist
 Some species have not changed much.
 We use different units of time
measurement depending on the
duration.
 History of Life has very large time scales.
 NB
 No need to learn names of
each period.
Ceno-New
Meso-Middel
Paleo- ancient
 Pre cambrian times from 4500-543 m.y.a.
› Believed that the earliest life forms were the
prokaryotes - anaerobic bacteria and
cyanobacteria.
› Due to high oxygen content, aerobic bacteria
evolved
› Followed by eukaryotes from the kingdom Protista
› Just before the Cambrian period, the first organisms
from the kingdom Animalia appeared
› Figure 4.2.6 – page 302
 The Cambrian explosion:
› This period lasted for 38 million years.
› During the first 5 – 20 million years (a geological
instant), all the major animal phyla evolved and
dominated the earth.
 End of Cambrian to present times:
› From the end of the Cambrian period, to the
current Holocene Epoch, there have various
animals appearing in the fossil record. Many
extinctions and mass extinctions which saw the
destruction of various animals and the emergence
of many other animals and plants.
 Extinction – the death of every organism
of a single species.
 Mass extinction – the death of approx
50% of species in a geological instant.

 Extinctions have been occurring since

time began – slow rate – usually at the
rate that new species evolve.
Proved incorrect by:
Anatomy-
connection of bones,
Behaviour- swim in
deep not shallow
waters
DNA- genetic
comparison similar to
fish not amphibians.