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Definition of life
A self-sustaining chemical system capable of Darwinian evolution, made of organic molecules.
What is DNA?
Stores information and serves as the blueprint for the development and functioning of living organisms.
RNA Polymerase
An enzyme that synthesizes RNA from a DNA template during the transcription process.
What do ribosomes do?
Cellular structures where proteins are synthesized, translating RNA information into functional proteins.
Hydrothermal vents
Locations that provide a steady source of energy and ingredients necessary for early life, stable for long periods.
Biomarkers
Stubborn chemicals that last long and indicate the presence of life, such as cholesterol in cell membranes.
Biosignatures
Clues left by life, such as metabolite signatures or the absence of oxygen without photosynthesis.
Miller-Urey experiment
An experiment demonstrating how organic compounds can be synthesized under conditions mimicking early Earth.
The Acetyl CoA pathway
A metabolic pathway that requires hydrogen and CO2, found in hydrothermal vents.
Characteristics of life
Include program (DNA), improvise (mutation), compartmentalize (membranes), energy, regeneration, adaptability, and seclusion.
Biological mass distribution
Most of Earth's living mass consists of bacteria and smaller organisms, rather than large animals.
Geologic time scale
A scale for understanding time in Earth's history, extending beyond biozones with absolute ages.
Challenges in studying origins of life
Requires careful interpretation of geological and biological data due to potential misleading observations.
What are molecular clocks?
Tools used to determine timing of evolutionary divergences based on mutation rates in DNA sequences.
What were early life's potential habitats?
Soda lakes, hydrothermal vents, and conditions conducive to organic compound synthesis.
What is the core concept of life's origins?
Exploration of conditions ideal for the early development of living organisms over billions of years.
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