Origins of the universe and life

How did the universe begin

• Religious traditions: Theism
– The universe was created by a higher power
– Creation stories among different cultures and
traditions
Steady state universe: Geocentrism
Steady State Universe: Heliocentrism
 Steady state universe
• The universe was static
• Was believed by Newton and Einstein
• Everything that is was there
 The Big bang theory
• The theory that about 13.8 billion years ago,
the universe began as a single point
• From this single point it expanded and in the
process everything in it appeared
• The universe is still expanding
Evidence for the Big Bang
Red shift- doppler effect
Cosmic Background Microwave
Radiation
 Sun
• Was formed about 5.6 billion years ago by
condensation of a cloud of atoms, mostly H+
and He.
• The heat is formed by Hydrogen Fusion
Formation of the planets
 The Question
• It is a question that practically everyone has
asked
• It is a question that is difficult to answer, and
is controversial
 What is life
• Reproduction (or in your book information
transfer)

• Metabolism

• Complexity- we resist disorder

Special Creation
Panspermia
 Panspermia
• Some space rocks have been found to have
organic material
• However, survival in space seem to be very
difficult
• May be due to accidents or deliberate, even
simple contamination
 Spontaneous Origin
• Life comes from the non-living world which
may have arisen when conditions favored it.
 What makes earth habitable?
• Temperature- our temperature range is just
right to keep water liquid, keep molecules
intact, and allow reactions to take place fast
enough
• Water- necessary component of most living
things, as well as a solvent in which reactions
take place. Earth has an abundant supply.
• Right size- the earth is big enough to hold a
life supporting atmosphere, but not so big to
make this atmosphere so thick.
• The right Atmosphere- allows for shielding
against radiation, and warming through
greenhouse gasses.
• Right Distance from the Sun- gives earth the
right temperature, and a good energy source
without it being too ‘burning.’
• Nutrient Cycling- the earth has a good cycling
system in the atmosphere as well as
volcanism. The timing is also just right.
Where did it begin?
• On clay.

• In the earths deeper crust.

• Under frozen ocean.

Deep see volcanic vents
Miller-Urey Experiments
 RNA or Protein first?
• RNA necessary for consistent assembly
– Ribozymes a plus

• Proteins are easier to form

 Cellular Origins
• Cells require an area which is separate from its
environment
– The bubble theories
– Protein vs fat bubbles
 Or Maybe
• It was RNA after all first
– Then enclosed in a bubble
– Then evolution.. And so on
Evolution of Cells
 Archaea
• The most primitive life forms
• Methanogens
• Killed by oxygen
• Halophiles, thermophiles
• DNA sequence was 2/3 different from modern
bacteria– they were a lot earlier indeed
 Eubacteria
• Stronger cell walls
• Like modern bacteria
• Photosynthetic- thus produced oxygen, and
then ozone, allowing life to further develop!
 Eukaryotic Cells
• True nucleus
• Bigger
• With membrane bound organelles
• This is YOU
Endosymbiosis
Multicellularity