Primordial Soup Hypothesis
The Primordial Soup Hypothesis, otherwise known as "The Primordial Soup Theory," was developed by the Russian chemist A.I. Oparin and English geneticist J.B.S. Haldane. Oparin & Haldane(1920) formed this idea separately though. In this theory, the basic aspects of life all came from simple molecules that formed in the atmosphere with the addition of oxygen. They believed that Earth had a chemically reducing atmosphere. This produced monomers. These monomers formed a "soup," that developed organic polymers, and the basic building blocks of life, in the oceans or ponds. Neither scientist had any real evidence to support their theory until Stanley Miller & Harold Urey(1953) decided to test their theory. They used a highly reduced mixture of gases- methane, ammonia and hydrogen- to form organic monomers like amino acids. This experiment gave support to the idea Oparin and Haldane had about the atmosphere being exposed to energy producing monomers. They both believed that organic molecules could have spontaneously formed from
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conditions such as the argument Oparin & Haldane had.
The Iron-Sulfur World Hypothesis was formed by Wachtershauser, a patent lawyer with a degree in chemistry.
Wachtershauser's(1918) theory proposed that life was developed on the surface of iron sulfide minerals. The way this experiment was tested was the water flow was pressurized and heated with dissolved volcanic gases to 100degrees Celsius. The flow passed over the iron sulfide to form catalytic metallo-peptides. Scientists support this hypothesis because they believe in the biochemistry of iron sulfide being the reason for life.
The Deep Sea World hypothesis, is many simple metabolic reactions emerging near ancient seafloor hot springs, could be a possibility to the beginning of life. In 1977, scientists discovered biological communities living near seafloor deep sea vents. They were far from sunlight, and were living off of chemical soup that would spew from the underwater geysers. This lead scientists such as Jeff Seawald to
believe
The RNA World Hypothesis pertains to scientists believing that the RNA world could be the pathway to cells and life. This idea was created by Sir Francis Crick in 1973. He said, "It may turn out that we will eventually be able to see how this RNA world got started. At present, the gap from the primal 'soup' to the first RNA system capable of natural selections looks forbiddingly wide." When he says this, I think about how he is trying to find an answer to this origin of biomolecules and how difficult it must have been. Scientists are able to demonstrate random sequences of RNA sometimes exhibit useful properties. Their results suggest randomness can produce functionality. The numbers for functional RNA is very large.
The theory, Community Clay Theory, proposed the thought that life was started and created in layers of clay on the Earth. Alexander G. Cairns-smith(1900), was the founder of this idea. This suggests life’s creation as a natural process. Clays contain things called defects that are copied into other layers, which is why many scientists believe that life could have all started from clay. However, the hypothesis doesn’t even mention the process of genetic coding transitions and transfers. This lead scientists such as Jeff Seawald to believe that these deep sea vents provide ideal environments with all the aspects needed for microbial life to emerge on Earth. These scientists tested whether critical precursors of life such as methanethiol could developed modern day vents by chemical means without the involvement of life.
The Panspermia Hypothesis, is a very interesting theory. In the Greek philosopher Anaxagoras(500BC-428BC) concept of panspermia was first mentioned. Panspermia Theory suggests that life seeds came from outer space and planets exchanged life. Many scientists believe that life on Earth was "seeded" by germs from space falling into the oceans, rather than other theories that suggest natural processes. Recently more scientists have started supporting this more because of a meteorite blasted off from the surface Mars about 15 million years ago was found in Antarctica. This may have remains of terrestrial Nano bacteria. They want more robotic exploration of space to happen to support this theory they have.
The question of the origin of molecules is yet to be solved. There are so many theories that make very good claims and have evidence, but then, they also have evidence proving the theories incorrect. I gave six examples of theories scientists have on the evolution of life, and none of them are for certain. Each is different in many aspects. It basically boils down to what you yourself believe was the trigger for the building blocks of life. It comes down to what you believe is the answer to the origin of molecules.
conditions such as the argument Oparin & Haldane had.
The Iron-Sulfur World Hypothesis was formed by Wachtershauser, a patent lawyer with a degree in chemistry.
Wachtershauser's(1918) theory proposed that life was developed on the surface of iron sulfide minerals. The way this experiment was tested was the water flow was pressurized and heated with dissolved volcanic gases to 100degrees Celsius. The flow passed over the iron sulfide to form catalytic metallo-peptides. Scientists support this hypothesis because they believe in the biochemistry of iron sulfide being the reason for life.
The Deep Sea World hypothesis, is many simple metabolic reactions emerging near ancient seafloor hot springs, could be a possibility to the beginning of life. In 1977, scientists discovered biological communities living near seafloor deep sea vents. They were far from sunlight, and were living off of chemical soup that would spew from the underwater geysers. This lead scientists such as Jeff Seawald to
believe
The RNA World Hypothesis pertains to scientists believing that the RNA world could be the pathway to cells and life. This idea was created by Sir Francis Crick in 1973. He said, "It may turn out that we will eventually be able to see how this RNA world got started. At present, the gap from the primal 'soup' to the first RNA system capable of natural selections looks forbiddingly wide." When he says this, I think about how he is trying to find an answer to this origin of biomolecules and how difficult it must have been. Scientists are able to demonstrate random sequences of RNA sometimes exhibit useful properties. Their results suggest randomness can produce functionality. The numbers for functional RNA is very large.
The theory, Community Clay Theory, proposed the thought that life was started and created in layers of clay on the Earth. Alexander G. Cairns-smith(1900), was the founder of this idea. This suggests life’s creation as a natural process. Clays contain things called defects that are copied into other layers, which is why many scientists believe that life could have all started from clay. However, the hypothesis doesn’t even mention the process of genetic coding transitions and transfers. This lead scientists such as Jeff Seawald to believe that these deep sea vents provide ideal environments with all the aspects needed for microbial life to emerge on Earth. These scientists tested whether critical precursors of life such as methanethiol could developed modern day vents by chemical means without the involvement of life.
The Panspermia Hypothesis, is a very interesting theory. In the Greek philosopher Anaxagoras(500BC-428BC) concept of panspermia was first mentioned. Panspermia Theory suggests that life seeds came from outer space and planets exchanged life. Many scientists believe that life on Earth was "seeded" by germs from space falling into the oceans, rather than other theories that suggest natural processes. Recently more scientists have started supporting this more because of a meteorite blasted off from the surface Mars about 15 million years ago was found in Antarctica. This may have remains of terrestrial Nano bacteria. They want more robotic exploration of space to happen to support this theory they have.
The question of the origin of molecules is yet to be solved. There are so many theories that make very good claims and have evidence, but then, they also have evidence proving the theories incorrect. I gave six examples of theories scientists have on the evolution of life, and none of them are for certain. Each is different in many aspects. It basically boils down to what you yourself believe was the trigger for the building blocks of life. It comes down to what you believe is the answer to the origin of molecules.