can anyone explain the heterotrophic hypothesis in more detail than the fact that the first organisms arose from the primordial soup? thanks!
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen06/gen06323.htm
http://www.biology-questions-and-answers.com/origin-of-life.html
http://books.google.com/books?id=GMeZ-2y8FkwC&pg=PA81&lpg=PA81&dq=heterotrophic+hypothesis&source=bl&ots=4rvC_CLXcF&sig=jT7CEUp8O5N-4WSHqeM2p5HMU8Q&hl=en&ei=eJ-eSuKbIpPplAen2fWcDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5
You pretty much summarized it.
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen06/gen06323.htm
Thank you... now if only I knew how to explain this conceptually as opposed to biologically...
How do you figure out <when you have a certain # to work with in an atom > how do you come up with how many neutrons, electrons and protons in the atom from the nucleus? Please help
Certainly! The heterotrophic hypothesis is a scientific explanation for the origin of life on Earth. It suggests that the first organisms were heterotrophic, meaning they obtained their energy and nutrients from organic compounds in their environment.
To understand the heterotrophic hypothesis in more detail, let's break down the concept into its key components:
1. Primordial Soup: According to this hypothesis, the early Earth's oceans contained a complex mixture of organic molecules. These molecules were created through chemical reactions driven by the energy from lightning, volcanic activity, and ultraviolet radiation.
2. Organic Compounds: The organic compounds present in the primordial soup include amino acids, nucleotides, sugars, and fatty acids. These are the building blocks of life, necessary for the formation of proteins, DNA, RNA, and cellular structures.
3. First Organisms: The heterotrophic hypothesis proposes that the first organisms were simple, single-celled entities that emerged in this primordial soup. These organisms did not have the ability to produce their own food through photosynthesis (like plants). Instead, they relied on consuming organic compounds available in their environment for their energy needs.
4. Energy and Nutrient Sources: The early heterotrophic organisms likely utilized a variety of energy and nutrient sources. They likely absorbed organic molecules from their surroundings or engulfed smaller organic particles, effectively breaking them down to obtain energy.
5. Evolutionary Progression: Over time, as populations of these early heterotrophic organisms proliferated and faced varying environmental conditions, natural selection played a role in favoring the development of more efficient nutrient acquisition mechanisms. This could have eventually led to the emergence of autotrophic organisms that could produce their own food through photosynthesis.
It is important to note that the heterotrophic hypothesis is one of several theories proposed to explain the origin of life on Earth. Since we cannot directly observe the events that occurred billions of years ago, scientists use various lines of evidence such as experiments, observations, and computer simulations to develop and refine these hypotheses.
By studying the chemical building blocks of life, the conditions of early Earth, and the behavior of simple organisms today, scientists can make educated inferences about how life may have originated from the primordial soup through heterotrophic means.