Life On Earth

Identify the relationship between the conditions on early Earth and

the origin of organic molecules
Discuss the implications of the existence of organic molecules in
the cosmos for the origin of life on earth
Describe two scientific theories relating to the evolution of the
chemicals of life and discuss their significance in understanding the
origin of life
Panspermia:
Seeds from outer space led to life on earth
Discovery of organic molecules on meteorites has ld to further research,
e.g. nasa probes to
Biochemical Theory
Discuss the significance of the Urey and Miller experiment in the
debate on the composition of the early atmosphere
identify changes in technology that have assisted in the
development of an increased understanding of the origin of life and
evolution of living things

Chapter 2 - Evolution of the living fossil record

identify the major stages in the evolution of living things including
the formation of:
- Organic molecules
- Membranes
- prokaryotic heterotrophic cells
- prokaryotic autotrophic cells
- eukaryotic cells
- Colonial organisms
- Multicellular organisms
Organic molecules (4500 mya ago)
-

The first stage of the evolution of life was the creation of

organic

molecules,

either

through

synthesis

from

inorganic molecules, or from outer space

-

These organic molecules began to clump together in a

soup

Anoxic environment

Membranes (4000- 3500 mya)

-

A membrane had to be developed to protect the internal environment

of the large organic molecule

The internal environment, i.e. the contents began to evolve into nucleic
acids and the primitive cell could now replicate

RNA was thought to be the first genetic material

Anoxic environment

Procaryotic heterotrophic cells (3500-2500 mya)

-

The first and simplest types of cells, like bacteria

No membrane-bound nucleus or membrane-bound organelles

These consumed other organic molecules to provide energy

(heterotrophic)

Anoxic

Procaryotic autotrophic cells (2500-2000 mya)

-

Ozone layers forms

Cells developed pathways to make own food

Evidence stromatolites (cyano bacteria)

 Eucaryotic cells (2000-1500)

-

Single cells may have developed from prokaryotes to increase

metabolic efficiency

Some of the simple prokaryotic cells may have engulfed other cells
which became internal structures or organelles and evolved into first
eukaryotic cells

Eucaryotic cells may have advanced to form membrane bound

organelles such as mitochondria

Examples of life: protozoans and algae

Evidence to support this comes comes from mitochondria having their

own nucleic acids

Oxic

Colonial organisms
-

Colonial organisms are groups or colonies of similar cells, eg,

stromatolites

All the cells in the colony have the same function; no differentiation

They form when daughter cells from cell division become bound
together

Oxic

Multicellular organism

- Cells became more organised and work together as a multi cellular organisms
- Simple organisms such as sponges, jelly fish, coral
-

More complex organisms such as worms, echinoderms and algae

Describe some of the paleontological evidence

PALEONTOLOGICAL EVIDENCE
Microfossils- fossils of single celled anaerobic prokaryotes or microfossils are very similar those
found today
Stromatolites
Fossil stromatolites are very similar to those found in Great Western Australia
suggesting these organisms were one of the earliest life forms.
Stromatolites created by cyanobacteria as they deposit layers of calcium
carbonate

Found when free oxygen reacts with iron (FE) indicating when the first
photosynthetic organisms arose

GEOLOGICAL
Banded Iron and Red bedrock formations
- Provide evidence towards the origin of photosynthetic life
Biomarkers
- indicate when the first bacteria arose

Explain why the change from an anoxic to an oxic atmosphere was

significant in the evolution of living things
Anoxic:
No free oxygen in the atmosphere and water
Oxic:
Oxygen available in the atmosphere and water
Cause:
Photosynthetic organisms evolved releasing oxygen into water
and atmosphere (due to photosynthesis)
Effect
Resulted in the evolution of organisms that use aerobic
respiration to gain energy
These aerobic organism were much more efficient in energy
production, allowing them to grow bigger in size and
complexity
It also inhibited the growth of anaerobic organisms and
population decreased in size
Also allowed for ozone layer to develop which gave protection
from UV, so organisms could live on land safely
Significance:
Aerobic energy is more efficient allows organisms to grow
bigger and to produce more energy more effectively
Anaerobic energy is more complex
Discuss the ways in which developments in scientific knowledge may conflict
with the ideas about the origins of life developed by different cultures
- Conflict arises with developments in scientific knowledge, as established views
cannot be reconciled with the new evidence.
- Individuals that hold strong view points and disagree with the new knowledge
will cause conflict.

Scientific Idea
- life arose from a
biological model
and evolution has
occurred over
millions of Years
- all organisms are
constantly
changing, not
created, but
evolved

Culture 1 idea
Culture 2 idea
- F
Aboriginals:
Hindu vedus:
o
- During the
- Believed that
r
dreamtime the
the one
rainbow serpent
breathed in
came out of the
their nature
water and onto the
and created
land. Its movements
the earth.
across the land
Various
created the rivers
versions e.g.
and the landscapes.
the blacksmith
created the
earth
Creationist:
- believe that god
created the Earth
and all animals were
created perfectly and
suitable for their
environements
example, Charles Darwin received much opposition surrounding his theory of
evolution
Similarity:
- living things arose from non-living things

Difference:
- there is no god involved in the theory of the scientific idea
Ideas about the Origin of life

Describe technological advances that have increased knowledge of prokaryotic

organisms
Technoligcal adcances
Light microscope
Electron microscope
Genetic sequencing
Amino acid sequence

Increased knowledge of prokaryotic

organisms
- Ability to identify cells as being
unicellular and small with a cell
membrane and cell wall
- Ability to see fine detail
- E.g. membrane bound organelles, lack
of nuclear membrane
- Determine number of chromosomes
- Amino acid sequence in proteins and
DNA/RNA vary
- Nucleotide sequences of the Achaea
RNA are different to bacteria and
eukaryotic organisms

 Describe the main features of the environment of an organism from one of the
following groups and identify its role in that environment:
- Archaea
- Bacteria
Bacteria
- Inhabit many environments including water, soil and the intestinal tracts of animals
- This group includes cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria:
- A group of the bacteria that photosynthesize
- Release oxygen into the atmosphere as a result of photosynthesizing
Archaea:
- Singled cell
- Do not contain any membrane bound organelles
- Most are found in extreme environments such as hot sulphur springs, extremely salty
water, hot acidic water in springs or near hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor
- Examples include sulphur bacteria, halo bacteria and methanogens
Methanogens:
- A type of archaebacteria that live in anaerobic (oxygen-free) environments such as
swamps, bogs and sewage.
- Some live in the digestive tracts of animals
Page 219 Table
Kingdom

Group of
Organisms

Main Feature
of Past
Environment

Main Feature
of Present
Environment

Archaea

Methanogens

Anoxic
environment.
Sediments of
marine and
aquatic
environment
s

Live in
digestive
systems or
mud where
there is little
or no free
oxygen. Use

Similarities
between past
and present
environment
s
Little or No
free oxygen.

fermentation
(anaerobic
respiration)
to obtain
energy.

Explain the need for scientists to classify organisms (PRCCS)

Simplification
- Creates a sense of order
Communication
- Allows you describe something without naming all the characteristics e.g.
koala
Predictions
- Given certain characteristics one can predict which something belongs to
Relationship
- To decide how closely related animals are in an evolutionary sense
Conservation
- Allows us to determine if something has changed
Describe the selection criteria used in different classification systems and discuss
the advantages and disadvantages of each system
Six Kingdoms:
Bacteria
- Unicellular
- Cells lack nuclei and membrane bound organelles
- Distinctive cell walls
- Some heterotrophs
- Some Autotrophs
- E.coli, slamonella
Archea
- Unicellular
- Cell lacks nuclei and membrane-bound organelles
- Distinct cell walls
- Some heterotrophs
- Some autotrophs
Protista
- Unicellular or multicellular
- Cells with nuclei and membrane bound organelles
- Some have cell walls
- Some autotrophs

Some Heterotrophs
Amoeba, algae

Plantae
- Unicellular or Multicellular
- Cells with nuclei membrane bound organelles
- Cell walls of cellulose
- Autotrophs
- Complex organ systems
Fungi
- Most multicellular thread like hyphae
- Cells with nuclei and membrane bound organelles
- Cell walls of chitin
- Heterotrophs (by absorption)
- Mushrooms, yeast, mould
Animalia
- Multicellular
- Cells with nuclei and membrane- bound organelles
- No cell walls
- Heterotrophs
- Complex organ systems
Three Kingdoms (Linnaeus 1735)
Selection Criteria
- Structural features
- Power of
locomotion

Advantages
- Separating the
eukaryotes is useful as
their structure is different

Disadvantages
- Some unicellular
eukaryotic organisms
posses animal and plant
traits

Advantages
- Easily observed in
any organism
- More constant in
an organisms life
time
- Can infer
reproduction
methods

Disadvantages
- Structures may
vary between
males and females
of species
- Internal
biochemistry is not
available for
inferring
evolutionary links

Advantages
- Provides genetic
similarities

Disadvantages
- Requires the use of
experts in

5 Kingdoms (Whittaker)
Selection Criteria
- Structural features
- Prokaryotic or
eukaryotic

6 Kingdoms (Woese)
Selection Critera
- Molecular Criteria
- Order of bases in

particularly genes
-

between
individuals
Biochemical info
provides more info
leading to possible
evolutionary
relationships
between organisms

molecular
techniques
Expensive
Upsets the
traditional method
of classification

Explain how levels of organization in a hierarchal system assist in classification

-

In the hierarchical system, the organisms are divided into the following
groups: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species
Organisms are classified into the different levels according to the features they
have
Levels of organization are useful for storing and retrieving information, as
much information is stored about an organism at each level