Preliminary Biology: Topic Summary

Life on Earth
Matt Elrick

1. Analysis of the oldest sedimentary rocks provide

evidence for the origin of life

1.1 Identify the relationship between the conditions on early Earth and
the origin of organic molecules
The frst major stage in the evolution of life was the formation of organic
molecules, which react rapidly with oxygen. If oxygen were present on early
Earth, then any simple organic molecules would have rapidly chemically reacted
and therefore not built up to concentrations necessary for formation of larger
molecules.
Early Earth contained methane, ammonia, water vapour and hydrogen gas; it
didnt contain any free oxygen, carbon dioxide or nitrogen. These conditions
mean that concentrations of organic molecules could have built up on early
Earth.
1.2 Discuss the implications of the existence of organic molecules in the
cosmos for the origin of life on Earth
75% of molecules detected in interstellar space are organic. No matter
whether these organic molecules were formed on Earth, or arrived from space,
there is general agreement that it was only under very specific conditions that
they would exist and therefore the possibility that they could be formed into
more complex molecules and eventually primitive cells.
1.3 Describe two scientific theories relating to the evolution of the
chemicals of life and discuss their significance in understanding the
origin of life
Theory 1:
-

Chemicals for life came from outer space (cosmos)

Earth was bombarded with meteorites during its early years of formation

When certain meteorites carbonaceous chondrites were frst analysed in

1970s, they were found to contain organic molecules, including amino
acids providing evidence of existence of organic molecules elsewhere in
the universe

Theory 2:
-

Haldane and Oparin believed life could have evolved in the conditions of
early Earth

In 1920s they both suggested that the early atmosphere of Earth

contained all the necessary basic chemical components for life to
form
They hypothesised that many complex organic molecules were created in
slow spontaneous
reactions using energy from UV radiation of lightning discharges

Theory 3: (not well-known)

-

Life evolved in the vents of deep sea volcanoes

1.4 Discuss the significance of the Urey and Miller experiments in the debate
on the composition of the primitive atmosphere
In 1953 Urey and Miller conducted an experiment in which they sent an electric
current through a chamber containing a combination of methane, ammonia,
hydrogen and water. After one week of continuous charges the experiment
yielded organic compounds including amino acids - the building blocks of life.
Urey and Millers experiment was important because it supported Haldane and
Oparins theory and demonstrated that complex organic molecules such as
amino acids can be produced naturally from more basic chemical components.
Urey and Millers experiment has since been confrmed and extended; sugars and
some of the basic units which make up nucleic acids, the chemicals of genetic
material, have been produced.
1.5 Identify changes in technology that have assisted in the
development of an increased understanding of the origin of life and
evolution of living things
-

Deep sea equipment has allowed exploration of remote

rd
environments such as oceanic trenches (3 theory)
Infrared observations and realistic laboratory simulations have allowed
us to explore evidence from space our understanding of the nature
of interstellar ice and dust come directly from these observations
Use of radioactive isotopes has allowed accurate dating of sedimentary
rocks and therefore
fossils
Electron microscopes have revealed details of microscopic fossils
that has enabled comparisons of early life forms with existing
microbes

2. The fossil record provides information about the subsequent

evolution of living things

2.1
Identify the major stages in the evolution of living things, including the
formation of:
- organic molecules
- membranes
- procaryotic heterotrophic cells
- procaryotic autotrophic cells
- eucaryotic cells
- colonial organisms
- multicellular organisms
Organic Molecules: refer to theories in 1.3; at some stage in the evolution of
life the simple organic molecules joined to become more complex.
above leads to ...

Membranes: critical step in origin of life; needed to isolate and protect inner
workings of a cell from surrounding medium; much debate of how frst membrane
formed.

above leads to ...

Procaryotic Heterotrophic cells: most primitive type of cells; no membranebound organelles; include bacteria; appeared very soon after Earth had cooled
enough for life to survive; obtained energy from organic molecules.
above leads to ...

Procaryotic Autotrophic cells: some prokaryotes developed chemical

pathways to produce their own food; includes cyanobacteria.
above leads to ...

Eucaryotic cells: found in most life forms on Earth; nucleus is separated from
cytoplasm by membrane and has membrane-bound organelles.
above leads to ...

Colonial organisms: colourless amoeba-like cells can exist individually but

usually in groups of 50000 cells and search for food (bacteria) or form sporeproducing reproductive structures; include sponges and corals.
above leads to ...

Multicellular organisms: colonies of cells have potential to develop specialised

cells, if these become grouped into tissues and then organs, multicellular
organisms can evolve.
2.2
Describe some of the palaeontological and geological evidence
that suggests when life originated on Earth
Palaeontological:
-

Earth believed to be about 4.5 billion years old

Oldest evidence of life found today are fossils resembling

cyanobacteria found in stromatolites that are 3.5 billion years
old in southern Africa and Australia
These fossils appear to be photosynthetic, which suggests that life
probably evolved prior to that of 3.5 billion years ago

Geological:
-

Ancient rocks contain chemical evidence that metabolism of stromatolites

was underway

Ancient rocks called banded iron formations and red bed-rock

formations has provided evidence as to when oxygen started to build
up in the atmosphere.

2.3
Explain why the change from an anoxic to an oxic
atmosphere was significant in the evolution of living things
The atmosphere gradually changed from anoxic to oxic as a result of the
evolution of photosynthesis. Anaerobic organisms then declined and
photosynthetic organisms became more abundant.
- Aerobic organisms evolved which used energy more effciently through
respiration
-

Greater metabolic activity became possible and organisms became more

active, resulting in increase in size and complexity of organisms.
Oxygen built up in atmosphere UV radiation from sun reacted with
some oxygen to form ozone, which then formed the ozone layer.

2.4 Discuss the ways in which developments in scientific knowledge may

confict with the ideas about the origins of life developed by different
cultures
Creationists: believe that all life on Earth today was created at the same
time by God, with no change over time.
Aboriginals: dreamtime; great supernatural beings existed in the dreamtime
and created the Earth and all life on it.
Science: evolution; natural selection Darwins theory; contradicts cultural beliefs
3. Further developments in our knowledge of present-day

organisms and the discovery of new organisms allows for

better understanding of the origins of life and the processes
involved in the evolution of living things
3.1 Describe technological advances that have increased knowledge of
procaryotic organisms
-

Electron microscope has assisted in the understanding of the structure of

cyanobacteria

Improvements in microscopes has enabled better images of extremely

small cells and even production of 3D images of them
- New technology has assisted in discovering archaeobacteria in extreme
environments such
as deep ocean trenches and vents
-

Space travel has assisted in discovery of bacteria living on surface of the

moon\

3.2 Describe the main features of the environment occupied by one of the
following and identify the role of this organism in its ecosystem:
- Archaea
- Eubacteria
- Cyanobacteria, including those that form stromatolites
- Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
- Methanogens
- Deeps-sea bacteria
Procaryotic
Cell
Archaea

Environment
Hostile environments

All habitats; wellknown for diseases

many of them
Mainly in
Cyanobacteri cause
marine
a
environment
Nitrogen
Live mutualistically on
fixing
roots
bacteria
of legume conditions
plants
Methanogens Anaerobic
Eubacteria

Role in ecosystem
Carry out inorganic reactions for
chemical energy
Plays a vital role in the recycling in an
ecosystem
Carries out photosynthesis
Converts nitrogen to ammonium ions
that can be
converted
to amino
acids in
thecarbon
plants
Use
hydrogen
compounds
and
dioxide to
produce energy for themselves
and release methane as a waste

Deep sea
bacteria

Boiling undersea vents

of

Basis of food web; use sulphur

compounds to

4. The study of present-day organisms increases our

understanding of past organisms and environments

4.1

Explain the need for scientists to classify organisms

Scientists classify organisms to put order into the large diversity of living
things to try to represent evolutionary relationships.
-

enables organisms to be described quickly and accurately

makes communication simpler and more precise

lets newly identified organisms belong to particular groups

enables trends in groups to be observed

helps to identify relationships and establish evolutionary pathways

4.2 Describe the selection criteria used in different classification

systems and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each
system

Kingdom
groups

Selection
Criteria

2-Kingdom
System
Plant
Animal

3-Kingdom System
Plant
Anima
l
Moner
a

Plants:
autotrophic,
photosynthetic,
cell wall, no
ability for
locomotion
Animals:
heterotrophic,
multicellular,
cells with no
cell wall, ability
for locomotion

Plants: autotrophic,
photosynthetic,
cell wall, no ability
for locomotion,
eucaryotic
Animals:
heterotrophic,
multicellular, cells
with no cell wall,
ability for
locomotion,
eucaryotic Monera:
procaryotic

Advantage Simple
s of
Easy to use
system
Disadvanta Very broad
ges
of system

Simple
Easy to use
Very broad

5-Kingdom System
Plant
Anima
l
Moner
a
Protist
Plants: autotrophic,
photosynthetic, cell
wall, no ability for
locomotion, eucaryotic
Animals: heterotrophic,
multicellular, cells with
no cell wall, ability for
locomotion, eucaryotic
Monera:
procaryotic
Protista:
eucaryotic,
unicellular
Fungi: eucaryotic,
Provides criteria for all
organisms, all
organisms can be
classified
Complex

4.3
Explain how levels of organisation in a hierarchical system assist in
classification
Levels of organisation assist classification because they provide a framework in
which the different levels of similarity and difference can be reflected. The
progression from Kingdom to Species involves a decrease in numbers of each
group and an increase in similarity or key common characteristics.
The hierarchical system assists classification as it provides a systematic level of
comparison from the most diverse group down to the level of species.
Kingdo
m
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
4.4 Discuss, using examples, the impact of changes in technology on
the development and revision of biological classification systems
Technology has helped us to more accurately chart the evolutionary
relationships. Classifcation is an attempt to represent these relationships. New
technologies have enabled us to make comparisons at cellular and molecular
levels in addition to existing criteria (external characteristics).
Biochemical techniques have enabled us to obtain sequences of amino acids in
protein molecules and the bases in DNA, MRI scans and X-rays have assisted in
this process.
4.5 Describe the main features of the binomial system in naming organisms
and relate these to the concepts of genus and species
To avoid confusion, biologists use a two-part naming system (binomial
system) for naming organisms. This is essential because common names
vary so much and a universal method is essential. The frst name is the
genus and the second being the species.
The concept of species relates to a group of organisms that are anatomically,
behaviourally and physiologically very similar; they can reproduce and breed
fertile offspring.
Species that belong to the same genus are closely related to each other.
4.6
Identify and discuss the difficulties experienced in classifying extinct
organisms
It is difficult to classify extinct organisms because features such as colour, body
covering and habitat may be very interpretive. Also if the organisms have been
extinct for a long period of time, there may be no similar type of organism to
compare it with. There is also an absence of biological material.

4.7
Explain how classification of organisms can assist in developing an
understanding of present and past life on Earth
Classifcation provides an extensive and well-documented framework upon which
new discoveries of life forms either past or present can be linked.
An aim of classification is to represent evolutionary relationships as well as
providing a system of identifying and comparing organisms.