Precambrian Period/
Hadean Period-Earths time of heavy
bombardment (lasted bout 1 billion years)
-Meteorites found on Earth are
usually chunks of material from
when the solar system was
young and forming
it’s planets.
Life From Mars?
-A meteorite could have slammed Mars
Billions of years ago and sent a piece of
the red planet to our planet, spawning
life on earth
-Once the piece hit Earth, life forms
from the red planet could have
survived, the impact .
Beginnings of Life on Earth
Extraterrestrial Theory –
Primordial Soup!
-Scientists have discovered
concentrations of amino acids in
two meteorites that are more than
10 times higher than levels
previously measured in other
similar meteorites.
How to make Life
Mix ingredients
For life to evolve, simple molecules have to combine to form
more complex ones. This mixing would have happened in the
seas of the early Earth, often called the 'primordial soup'.
Add energy
Next you need energy. This may have come from lightning
-Amino acids are organic
storms or hot underwater springs. This injection of energy
molecules that form the backbone
sparked chemical reactions. These simple molecules began
of proteins, which in turn build
joining to form larger, more complex ones, called 'amino acids'.
many of the structures and drive
In a classic experiment in 1953, Stanley Miller and Harold Urey
many of the chemical reactions
recreated the primordial soup in the laboratory. By passing
inside living cells.
electricity through a mixture of simple molecules, they were able
to make amino acids.
-Amino acids are then joined
together to form proteins.
Possible organisms from Mars
Proteins are essential for
building a living creature.
They are involved in the
NASA examined a
formation of just about
meteorite that
everything in an organism.
originated on Mars, and
After this, DNA is formed..
may have found
evidence of a
primitive life
A gas mixture was used that was
form that may
assumed to have existed on the
have existed
primordial earth, composed of
on Mars 3.6
ammonia, methane, hydrogen,
billion years ago.,
and water vapor. Since these
Possibly bacteria/
gases would not react with each
other under natural conditions,
energy was added to the mixture
to start a reaction among them.
-Tiny microbes, frozen in the heart of
Supposing that this energy could
comets or asteroids, could have
have come from lightning in a
brought life to this planet.
-Meteor
primordial atmosphere, electric
strikes blast
current was used to try to spark
-Comets and meteorites, carrying
and shatter
life.
complex organic molecules, helped
rocks, making
start life here as all life on Earth is
them easier
The gas mixture was at 100°C
made of complex carbon molecules.
for microbes
for a week and an electrical
to inhabit,
current was added. By the end of
and the crater
a week the chemicals at the end
-Organic molecules could have
itself provides
of the glass were observed.
This specimen was
also come from some blown up
a protected
Three out of the 20 amino acids
found by a field party
planet millions of light years away
basin.
which
constitute
the
basic
from the U.S. Antarctic
from Earth.
elements
of
proteins
had
been
Search for Meteorites
synthesized.
program on Dec. 15,
-It's possible that impact craters could
2003, around the South
represent some of the best sites for
Kevin van den Bogaard
Pole.
early life.
Biology 1407
Precambrian Period
Hadean period
-Scientists have discovered concentrations of amino acids in two
meteorites that are more than 10 times higher than levels previously
measured in other similar meteorites.
-Amino acids are organic molecules that form the backbone of
proteins, which in turn build many of the structures and drive many of
the chemical reactions inside living cells.
-Meteorites found on Earth are usually chunks of
material from when the solar system was
young and forming
it’s planets.
-A meteorite could have slammed Mars Billions of years
ago and sent a piece of
the red planet to our planet, spawning
life on earth
-It is possible that microbes from Mars
could have infiltrated Earth by means
of a piece of Mars somehow coming
into contact with Earth.

NASA examined a meteorite that originated on Mars, and
may have found evidence of a primitive life form that may
have existed on Mars 3.6 billion years ago.

-Meteor strikes blast and shatter rocks, making them
easier for microbes to inhabit, and the crater itself
provides a protected basin.

-It's possible that impact craters could represent some of
the best sites for early life.

-Tiny microbes, frozen in the heart of comets or asteroids, could have brought
life to this planet.

-Comets and asteroids, carrying complex organic molecules, helped start life
here as all life on Earth is made of complex carbon molecules.

-Space scientists want to grab samples of rock and earth from comets and
asteroids as they hurtle through the solar system to examine their chemistry.

-Organic molecules could have also come from some blown up planet millions
of light years away from Earth.
-Mix ingredients
For life to evolve, simple molecules have to combine to form
complex ones. This mixing would have happened in the
more seas of the early Earth, often called the 'primordial soup'.
-Add energy
Next you need energy. This may have come from lightning storms or hot underwater
springs. This injection of energy sparked chemical reactions. These simple molecules
began joining to form larger, more complex ones, called 'amino acids'.
-Amino acids are then joined together to form proteins. Proteins are essential for
building a living creature. They are involved in the formation of just about
everything in an organism.
After this, DNA is formed..

A gas mixture was used that was assumed to have existed on the primordial earth,
composed of ammonia, methane, hydrogen, and water vapor. Since these gases would not
react with each other under natural conditions, energy was added to the mixture to start a
reaction among them. Supposing that this energy could have come from lightning in a
primordial atmosphere, electric current was used to try to spark life.

The gas mixture was at 100°C for a week and an electrical
current was added. By the end of a week the
chemicals at the end of the glass were observed.
Three out of the 20 amino acids which constitute
the basic elements of proteins had been
synthesized.