Transcript Origin of Life - Cloudfront.net

Origin of Life
Origin of the Solar System
• Earth is estimated
to be ~4.6byo
– Radiometric dating
of rocks & meteors
• Nebula: cloud of
gas & dust in space
• Nebula Hypothesis:
– Gravity pulled much
material together
(Sun formed)
– Planets: remaining
materials
Ancient Earth
• Atmosphere contents:
– Ammonia, H2O vapor,
Methane, CO2
• Climate:
– Extreme heat due to
meteor impacts &
volcanic activity
• Eventually Cooling:
Water vapor
condensed (oceans
formed)
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• Hypothesis: Energy from
lightning created organic
materials from inorganic
ingredients
• Experimental Set-Up:
– Ammonia, H2O vapor,
Methane, CO2 gases
added
– Electricity added (simulate
lightning)
• Result: Amino Acids &
later nucleotides
Murchison Meteorite
Cell Formation?
• Liposomes
– Spheres of lipids
– Can form around
organic molecules
– Hypothesis: 1st cell
membranes?