A1.1.

1
​Water as the medium for life.
The note blank templates are available on MB

• State that the first cells originated in water.

• ​List reasons why water is a substance on which life
depends
‫جعلنا من الماء كل شيء ح‬
 ‫وروى البخاري وأحمد والترمذي والنسائي عن عمران بن حصين‬
‫أن أهل اليمن قالوا‪ :‬يا رسول هللا أخبرنا عن أول هذا األمر كيف كان؟‬

‫‪،‬قال‪ :‬كان هللا قبل كل شيء‪ ،‬وكان عرشه على الماء‬

‫‪.‬وكتب في اللوح المحفوظ ذكر كل شيء‪ ،‬وخلق السماوات واألرض‬
The first cells originated in water.
Liquid water is essential for life as we know it.
There is evidence that water on Earth originated around 4.5 billion years ago (A1.1.7) and that life first emerged at least 3.8 billion
years ago. In order for life to form and maintain itself, the molecular ingredients of life need to react with each other in a liquid
solvent - water. There is scientific debate around whether the water was in a pond, hydrothermal pool or sea - but there is no debate
that water was present.

Harvard Magazine
Water is a solvent.
Water’s can dissolve a variety of
molecules. Water’s role as a solvent helps
multicellular organisms transport
molecules around a body and acts a the
medium in which chemical reactions of
life occur (A1.1.5).

BioNinja
Water is a metabolite.
Chemical reactions take
place in cells. Collectively
these reactions together are
called metabolism. The
chemicals involved are
called metabolites. Water is
a metabolite in many
reactions, either as a reactant
or as a product of reaction.
For example, it's involved in
Condensation Reaction Hydrolysis Reaction
photosynthesis, digestion When water reacts with a chemical
When water is formed as one of the
and aerobic respiration. products when two molecules join to break it into smaller molecules
together the reaction is described as the reaction is described as
condensation (B1.1.2). hydrolysis (B1.1.3).
Water is temperature buffer.
Many metabolic reactions in cells are catalysed by enzymes (C1.1.2).
Enzyme activity is sensitive to temperature and reactions only occur in a
narrow range of temperature. Water helps to buffer temperature changes in
cells because of its relatively high specific heat capacity.

Enzymes work best at

an optimal
temperature, beyond
which they will
The many intermolecular hydrogen bonds (A1.1.2)
denature (C1.1.8).
between water maintain its high heat capacity (
A1.1.6). Chemistry Online
Worthington Biochemical
 Water maintains biological structures.
Water contributes to Water impacts the Water surrounds
the formation of cell folding of proteins. DNA to support the
membranes. double-helix.

drlib Lab Exchange Chemistry World

Phospholipid heads interact with water,

Water drives the folding of amino acid Without this shape (A1.2.6), cells would be
while the tails try to avoid water. Seeking
chains as different types of amino acids unable to follow the careful instructions
these favorable interactions, phospholipids
seek and avoid interacting with water encoded by DNA (A1.2.9) or to pass the
spontaneously form bilayers with the heads
(B1.2.9). Without the proper shape, instructions onto future cells (D1.1.1).
facing outward towards the surrounding
proteins would be unable to perform their
water and the tails facing inward (B1.1.12).
functions (B1.2.12).
Biello, D. Did Life's First Cells Evolve in Geothermal Pools? Scientific American (2012). Available from:
Did Life's First Cells Evolve in Geothermal Pools? - Scientific American

Cooper, GM. The Cell: A Molecular Approach. 2nd edition. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates (2000). The Origin and Evolution of Cells. Available from:
The Origin and Evolution of Cells - The Cell - NCBI Bookshelf

Hicks, L. Scientists are rethinking where life originated on Earth. Science (2020). Available from:
Scientists are rethinking where life originated on Earth | Science | AAAS

McDermott, L et al. DNA’s Chiral Spine of Hydration. ACS Cent. Sci. 2017, 3, 7, 708–714 (2017). Available from
DNA’s Chiral Spine of Hydration | ACS Central Science

O’Donnell, E. How Life Began; Jack Szostak’s Pursuit of the Biggest Questions on Earth. Harvard Magazine (2019). Available from:
Jack Szostak pursues the biggest questions on Earth | Harvard Magazine

Royal Society of Biology. Water and Living Organisms (date unknown). Available from Water and living organisms

Sargen, M. Biological Roles of Water: Why is Water Necessary for Life? Harvard University Science in the News (2019). Available from
Biological Roles of Water: Why is water necessary for life? - Science in the News

Stierwalt, S. How did water get on Earth? Scientific American (2019). Available from How Did Water Get on Earth? - Scientific American

Westall, F. and Brack, A. The Importance of Water for Life. Space Sci Rev 214, 50 (2018). Available from: The Importance of Water for Life | SpringerLink

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