Formation of protocells
Formation of protocellsToday, we've realised that the very first life on Earth was indeed originated from abiotic surroundings. In fact, organic molecules have been successfully generated from abiotic elements by scientists
To understand how this creation of life from abiotic material occured, we have to consider a critical idea. Life originated from its abiotic surroundings. Thus, it is important for us to learn about the physical and chemical environments of the primitive Earth. The atmosphere of primitive Earth consisted of reactive, naturally availabe, molecules: Nitrogen (N2), water (H2O), methane (CH4), and ammonia (NH3), etc. These molecules what was needed to create life -- in fact, the percentage of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon, together consists 99.5 % of all matters. In fact, the percentage of essential elements of life -- C, N, O, H, P, and S -- are quite similar from individuals to individuals.
Energy wise, the Earth had plenty from a variey of sources Radiation: from the cosmic and radioactive isotope decays UV light: there were no protective ozone layer and thus immense heat. Electrical discharge from the never ending lightning caused chemical reactions to occur very often and there was also another source of heat from the young earth crust which was volcanically active.
For most chemical reactions to take place, a spark of electricity is needed, and this was provided by the lightning in the atmosphere. Amino acids basically consist of hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and carbon. Due to all of the lightning chemical reactions took place between molecules of N2 and H2, thus these molecules formed Amino acids.
A famous American scientist Dr Fox, was able to show how amino acids, the building blocks of proteins found in all living things, could spontaneously organize themselves into "microspheres." These cell-like structures, in the right conditions -- perhaps like those found shortly after the Earth was formed -- grow and multiply. A trace of these microspheres where found in fossils believed to be 3.4 billion years old. This once again inforces the theory of amino acids being the first building blocks on earth.
These amino acids, with the help of fatty acids, were able to form protocells.
These cell-like organisms were able to survive and reproduce in a very limited environment because of their simplicity. Over time, some of these protocells came together and shared their specialization in a symbiotic relationship.
These cells, somehow got “life”. They began...
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