Transcript Class Introduction - Cedarville University

Origin of Complex Life
HON-3230
Chance, Emergence or Design
Steven Gollmer
Cedarville University
Complex Life: Page 1
From a Simple Replicator
• Life requirements
– Information storage
– Replication
– Metabolism
• Possible first replicators
–
–
–
–
Protein first world
RNA world
Lipid world
Metabolism first
Steven Gollmer
Cedarville University
Complex Life: Page 2
Steven Gollmer
Cedarville University
Complex Life: Page 3
Metabolism Recapitulates
Biogenesis
– Central Metabolic cycle (A)
• Basic replication
• Pathway for fatty acid production
– Amino acid production (B)
• Synthesis involving nitrogen
– Basis for protein structure (C)
• Synthesis involving sulfur
– Basis for nucleic acid and coenzymes (D)
• Synthesis involving ring closure
Steven Gollmer
Cedarville University
Complex Life: Page 4
Two Ways to Model the
Essentials
• Bottom-Up
(Modification by cooption)
S
N
C
O
H
A
B C
• Top-Down
(Interoperating
components)
C
O
H
A
B
S
C
D
N
D
Steven Gollmer
Cedarville University
Complex Life: Page 5
Irreduceable Complexity
• What are the
chances that all the
components of a
simple device
come together in a
functional
manner?
Steven Gollmer
Cedarville University
Complex Life: Page 6
Critique of IC
• https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=4dQJzj2D
MrA
• https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=K_HVrjKc
vrU
Steven Gollmer
Cedarville University
Complex Life: Page 7
Complexification of Cells
• Autotrophs
– Photoautotrophs
– Lithautotrophs
• Thermophilic autotrophic bacteria
• Heterotrophs
– Need environmental organic compounds
• Prokaryotes
– Circular DNA
Steven Gollmer
Cedarville University
Complex Life: Page 8
Beginning of Eukaryotes
• Endosymbiosis
Theory
– Lynn Margulis
• Presence of Organelles
– Mitochondria
– Chloroplasts
• Nucleus
– Contain genetic
material
Steven Gollmer
Cedarville University
Complex Life: Page 9
Additional Changes
• Animals vs. Plants
– Cell membrane vs. cell wall
– Plastids
• Origin of Sex
– 2 fold cost over parthenogenesis
– DNA repair mechanism
– Mitosis vs. Meiosis
Steven Gollmer
Cedarville University
Complex Life: Page 10
Common Ancestry
Steven Gollmer
Cedarville University
Complex Life: Page 11
Molecular Ancester
• DNA Mutation
– Molecular Phylogeny
– Molecular Clock
• Prediction
– Common animal 0.9 - 1.0 billion YBP
• Problem
– Different trees for different indicators
– Lateral Gene Transfer
Steven Gollmer
Cedarville University
Complex Life: Page 12
Cambrian Explosion
Steven Gollmer
Cedarville University
Complex Life: Page 13
Discontinuity
Darwinian Evolution
Punctuated Equilibrium
Actual
Steven Gollmer
Cedarville University
Complex Life: Page 14
Paper 3 – Synthetic Biology
• Craig Venter
– Bacteria Genome Press Release (Handout)
– Web Site – http://www.jcvi.org/cms/home/
• Synthetic Biology
– Web Site - http://syntheticbiology.org/
– Bio-Bricks - http://biobricks.org/
– iGEM Competition - http://www.igem.org/Main_Page
• Write an essay analyzing the benefit of synthetic biology and its value
to the creationist community. (No false praise)
– Include 3 developments in this area with references to support your
claims.
– 5 points are reserved for clarity and significance of your analysis.
Steven Gollmer
Cedarville University
Complex Life: Page 15