|
This
|
by
way of this |
leads
to this |
|
Something
or nothing |
Big
Bang |
our
universe, expanding and full of dark matter |
|
Expanding
early universe |
nuclear
fusion |
synthesis
of Hydrogen (H) and Helium (He) |
|
H,
He and dark matter |
gravitation
|
contraction
to galaxies, clusters, and stars |
|
Stars
of H and He |
nuclear
fusion |
synthesis
of elements such as:
O, C, Ne, Fe, N, Si, Mg, S, Ar, Ca, Al, Ni, Na, P (in
order of abundance) |
|
These
elements |
gravitation
|
the
Sun and the Earth |
|
Oxygen
|
chemical
reactions |
H2O,
carbonates CO3, phosphates PO3, etc.,
by destroying oxygen gas O2 and ozone O3
|
|
Earth
+ local energy |
sunlight,
weather |
oceans
given energy geothermally, by volcanoes, by UV sunlight (no
ozone layer), and by lightning |
|
Molecules
in oceans |
chemical
reactions |
fatty
acids, simple sugars like ribose, amino acids, and nucleic
bases (A, G, C, T, U); shown originally in Miller-Urey experiment
in 1953 |
|
Rocks
|
erosion
|
salts
and minerals, notably phosphates, dissolve into the oceans;
we now have primordial soup |
|
A,
G, C, U, + PO3 + ribose |
chemical
reactions* |
ribonucleic
acid: RNA (a
polymer a chain of the ingredients strung together
in sequence) |
|
RNA
+ amino acids |
chemical
reactions* |
polymerize
into proteins, including enzymes |
|
Enzymes
+ RNA ingredients |
chemical
reactions* |
polymerize
into deoxyribonucleic acid:
DNA |
|
A
+ 3PO3 + ribose + UV |
chemical
reactions |
adenosine
triphosphate: ATP
(shown in experiments) |
|
Fatty
acids |
chemical
reactions |
polymerize
into lipids |
|
Sugars
|
chemical
reactions |
polymerize
into polysaccharides, starch |
|
These
polymers |
random
chance + chemical reactions |
self-organization
into droplets with membrane walls constructed from proteins:
protocells |
|
These
protocells + ATP |
random
chance + chemical reactions |
metabolism:
droplets process outside materials, such as eating
glucose-phosphate and spitting out phosphate; ATP is the energy
source for such operations |
|
Droplets
with metabolism |
chemical
reactions |
growth:
protocells get larger, membranes get stronger
|
|
Large
protocells |
mechanical
stress |
reproduction:
large protocells (parents) break into smaller ones
(daughters) due to structural instability; DNA replication
creates heritability in this process |
|
Growth
+ reproduction |
definition
|
metabolic
growth + reproduction = life |
|
Proliferation
of protocells |
natural
selection |
evolution
of new metabolic processes; as ATP is used up, protocells
whose DNA is coded to synthesize ATP from other ingredients
will survive while others die; single successful protocellular
line survives probably |
|
Competition
for ATP |
natural
selection |
one
alternate means to acquire energy for protocells may have
led to glucose consumption by photosynthesis |
|
Photosynthesis
|
natural
selection |
algae
|
|
Algae
|
Photosynthesis
|
molecular
oxygen O2 exhausted into atmosphere
|
|
Oxygen
in atmosphere |
chemical
reactions |
ozone
layer forms (O3) |
|
Anaerobic
cells + oxygen |
chemical
reactions |
oxygen
is toxic to most cells so they die |
|
Dead
organic material |
natural
selection |
free
organic material (food) exists for consumption
|
|
Two
sources of food |
natural
selection |
two
life lines form: producers
(algae) and consumers (bacteria) |
|
Bacteria
|
natural
selection |
advantage
exists for bacteria with ability to move about to find food
|
|
Bacteria
|
random
chance + chemical reactions |
sex:
genetic mixing of bacteria leads to efficient means
of trying new traits |
|
Existing
cells, big and small |
random
chance + chemical reactions |
big
cells eat small ones; in some cases the small cells are indigestible
but exist well inside the host, creating the origin of cell
organelles like mitochondria, chloroplasts, cell nuclei,
etc. |
|
Cells
with organelles (eukaryotic cells) |
natural
selection |
complexity
evolves, leading to biological diversity, organs, plants,
animals, etc. |
|
Complexity
|
natural
selection* |
survival
advantage for intelligence |
|
Evolution
+ extinctions |
natural
selection |
Animals,
including humans |
|
Animals
|
natural
selection |
societies
evolve; origin of for-the-collective-good behavior, specialization
of labor; morality and emotion and consciousness?
|
