Scribd
Upload
406 views

Origin of Life 1

1. There are several theories for the origin of life on Earth, including spontaneous generation from non-living matter (abiogenesis), life arriving from space (cosmozoic theory), and divine creation. 2. One influential theory was proposed by Alexander Oparin, who suggested that under the early Earth's atmosphere, simple chemical compounds could combine through radiation and electricity to form more complex organic molecules, eventually leading to the first living cells. 3. Experiments by Stanley Miller and Harold Urey in the 1950s supported abiogenesis by demonstrating amino acids could form from simple gases through electric sparks, simulating early Earth conditions.

Uploaded by

zxcvblester
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
406 views

Origin of Life 1

1. There are several theories for the origin of life on Earth, including spontaneous generation from non-living matter (abiogenesis), life arriving from space (cosmozoic theory), and divine creation. 2. One influential theory was proposed by Alexander Oparin, who suggested that under the early Earth's atmosphere, simple chemical compounds could combine through radiation and electricity to form more complex organic molecules, eventually leading to the first living cells. 3. Experiments by Stanley Miller and Harold Urey in the 1950s supported abiogenesis by demonstrating amino acids could form from simple gases through electric sparks, simulating early Earth conditions.

Uploaded by

zxcvblester
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

ORIGIN OF LIFE

Theories
Our planet earth is inhabited by an enormous variety of living organ- isms. The plants and
animals show remarkable biodiversity. The diversities mostly appear as adaptations for diverse
habitats and living methods adopted. This vastness has always made people wonder about the
origin of life and diversity. To a certain extent Charles Darwins natural selection concept provides an explanation towards an understanding of evolution of various kinds of life forms.
However the theory of origin of life is still a matter of speculation. Several intelligent
explanations had been provided to account for the origin of life on earth.

1. Theory of Special Creation


According to the proponents of this theory all living forms with their richness in diversity were
created abruptly by a super natural power. The support or acceptance of this theory is mostly
due to faith rather than experimental or scientific evidences. However, supporters of this theory
have recently created a new discipline called creation science.

2. Cosmozoic Theory
This theory states that life came to earth from some other planet or star. The resistant spores
that lead to life on earth are named as cosmozoa. They reached earth accidentally. Under
favorable conditions they evolved and produced all forms of life on earth. An acceptance of this
theory needs evidence for the existence of extra-terrestrial life.

3. Theory of Spontaneous Generation or Abiogenesis


The theory that life originated from non-living material is now called abiogenesis. An earlier
version of this theory was spontaneous genera- tion or the origin of life without apparent cause.
The ancient Greek philosophers like Thales, Empedocles and Aristotle supported this concept.
Thales (624-548 BC) suggested that oceanic water was the mother from which all living forms
originated. According to Empedocles (540-433 BC) life originated by itself from non-living matter
and imperfect forms were replaced by perfect forms. Aristotle (384-322 BC) proposed that living
forms are animated forms of non-living matter. The activation was due to vital forces or guiding
intelligence. He further stated that the vital forces operate constantly and improve the living
world.
In the 17th century the idea of abiogenesis was opposed by an Italian physician Francisco Redi
(1621-1697). For the first time he proposed through experiments, that life could arise only from
pre-existing living things. He tested his hypothesis by sealing meat inside four closed flask,
while leaving another four meat filled flasks open. Soon the meat in the open flasks was full of
maggots. Flies were entering and leaving the flask. Even after many days no worm appeared in
the closed and sealed flask. This experiment confirmed his idea that new life can come only
from early life.

4. Big Bang theory


This theory is concerned with the origin of earth and other planets. According to this theory the
universe originated in a big bang. All matter was created in this big bang including the matter of
which stars and planets are composed of. According to this theory as a young star increases in
den- sity, it gets heated up due to increasing pressure. When a certain critical temperature is
reached thermonuclear reactions will begin and cause a big bang. It is believed that our sun
was formed in this way.

5. A. I. Oparins theory
Alexander I. Oparin, a Russian chemist published a paper in 1924. He advanced a new theory
regarding origin of life. This theory is called the theory of primary abiogenesis. According to
Oparin conditions on Earth today are no longer suitable to the production of life from non-living
matter. The primordial earth, about 2600 million years ago provided suitable atmosphere for the
origin of life. The earth during that period had many simple chemical com- pounds. More and
more complex organic compounds were formed under the influence of electric charges and
Ultra violet rays. The origin of complex organic molecules made the origin of life easier.

6. J. B. S. Haldanes hypothesis
Haldane was a British biochemist. He was the first to propose that life originated on earth, when
the atmosphere was devoid of O2 gas. Todays earth is surrounded by oxygen and its derivative
ozone. The ozone layer protects earth by preventing the entry of harmful cosmic radiations. In
1929, he suggested that an atmosphere lacking O2 would have no ozone layer. Hence ultra
violet rays were freely entering earths atmosphere. In a reducing atmosphere this could have
caused photochemical reactions resulting in the generation of organic molecules. These
molecules gradually accumulated in the oceans as a dilute soup.

7. Urey - Miller hypothesis


U.S scientists Harold Urey and Stanley Miller in 1950s proposed and attempted to prove that
amino acids can be synthesized outside living systems. They conducted experiments in which a
gas mixture containing hydrogen, ammonia, methane and water vapor was subjected to electric
spark. This trial yielded aldehydes, amino acids and carboxylic acids. They visualized the
existence of a similar situation and happening of events resulting in a large scale accumulation
of diverse biomolecules in the primordial earth. These chemical incidents could have paved the
way for the origin of a cellular organization.

8. Coacervation theory
Coacervates were considered to represent the protocell model. The tendency of biological
polymers to form polymer-rich droplets called coacer- vates has been proposed by Oparin. He
reported that coacervates are readily formed from aqueous suspension of proteins,
polysaccharides and nucleic ac- ids. Biochemical processes like enzyme action and electron
transport can happen within a coacervate. Such systems were considered the forerunner of
living cells.

You might also like