First Organic Molecules and the First Cell Study Guide
Introduction
Geologists estimate that the earth was formed around 4.5 billion years ago based on radiometric dating, a technique used to measure the age of some of the oldest rocks and other geologic materials on the planet (which are still being discovered today!). Life did not fully flourish at that point in history, and survival became even harder when several celestial bodies and asteroids made contact with the earth. However, when life did manage to sustain itself, the earth had a bunch of “firsts”, two of which we’ll cover in this guide: the first organic molecule, and the first cell. Let’s get started!
History of the Organic Molecule
An organic molecule is a complex molecule that is primarily made of carbon atoms bonded with carbons and other types of atoms. Scientists have examined and proposed that the first organic molecules were pretty simple carbon-based ones composed of just a few atoms. These carbon molecules then bonded with other elements to form complex molecules.
Scientists believe that the formation of organic molecules happened much before the rise of cells, even though cells are now considered the primary definition of living beings. Several experiments and hypotheses explain the formation of these organic building blocks, two of which we’ll cover below.
Oparin-Haldane Hypothesis
In the 1920s, Russian scientist Oparin and English scientist Haldane hypothesized that organic molecules originated from nonliving matter through the gradual process of chemical evolution.
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They believed that molecules first began to donate electrons during the initial Earth formation period due to the poor oxygen atmosphere.
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They suggested that simple inorganic molecules might have reacted to form amino acid-like building blocks along with nucleotides that later accumulated in ocean, forming a ‘primordial soup.’
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These building blocks could have combined to form even larger and more polymers such as proteins and nucleic acids. Once assembled, these polymers formed stabilized structures capable of replication
Oparin and Haldene’s theory of the spontaneous formation of complex molecules from simple ones remains the core foundation of the origin-of-life hypothesis to this day.
Urey And Miller Hypothesis
The experiments of Miller and Urey demonstrated that the primitive Earth conditions favored chemical reactions that synthesize organic molecules from different inorganic precursors.
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He showed that when the different gas mixtures present in the earth’s initial atmosphere came in contact with lightning-like sparks, they formed monomer mixtures which which included water, ammonia, methane, and hydrogen.
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Theories about the formation of DNA, RNA, and polymers were not included in this experiment. It instead focused on the formation of 13 of the 22 amino acids that comprise modern lipids, proteins, and sugars.
In recent times, many discrepancies have been found in the Urey and Miller experiment regarding the early Earth’s atmospheric composition. Many disagree with its conclusions, believing instead that active volcanoes were the true precursor of the formation of organic molecules.
RNA and DNA: Which Came First?
There is always confusion regarding which came first, RNA or DNA?
The Genes-First Hypothesis explore the possibility that initial life forms were thought to be self-replicating nucleic acids like DNA or RNA, and the other elements came as an add-on. This one is known as the genes-first hypothesis. Scientists who back this theory believe that RNA came to be before DNA.
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Other than being an information carrier, RNA can also behave like a catalyst. No such findings were discovered regarding DNA.
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RNA catalysts are regarded as ribozymes and play a very crucial role in the RNA world. They coudl potentially catalyze any chemical reaction to copy itself. This kind of self-replicating RNA can pass on the same information for geneartions, helping fulfill the basic living criteria of undergoing evolution.
The Metabolism-first Hypothesis goes in the opposite direction of what the gene-first theory states. This hypothesis believes that self-sustaining metabolic reaction networks were the first simple life forms. They could be easily formed, let’s say, near undersea hydrothermal vents. Eventually, they were capable of building larger molecules, which is when DNA and RNA came to be.
The First Cell
The basic components of the first cell were probably some sort of membrane surrounding a set of organic molecules. It is possible that lipid molecules first grew around the organic molecules and prevented them from interacting with the external environment. This barrier provided them some form of protection that allowed them to sustain their existence, which eventually led to the formation of primitive cells!
Scientists strongly believe that the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) gave rise to life on earth. This organism was likely prokaryotic and lacked both a nucleus and any other membrane bound organelles.
The earliest cells were also probably heterotrophic and sourced their food from external sources, eventually evolving into autotrophs (cells that made their own food) and heterotrophs that engaged in cellular respiration (use of oxygen for energy).
✅ Conclusion
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An organic molecule is a complex molecule that is primarily made of carbon atoms bonded with other carbons or different types of atoms.
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Several theories exist to explain how organic moleculses came to be, including the Oparin-Haldane hypothesis and the experiments of Miller and Urey.
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The Oparin-Haldane hypothesis states that organic molecules originated from nonliving matter through the gradual process of chemical evolution.
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The experiments of Miller and Urey concluded that organic molecules were first produced when a lighting-like spark ignited a gas mixture in the Earth’s atmosphere.
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Two theories exist to explain which originated first: RNA or DNA.
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The ‘gene-first’ hypothesis dictates that RNA came to be before biochemical pathways, while the “metabolism first” hypothesis states the opposite.
FAQs
1. From what organism do scientists believe all life arose?
The Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA).
2. What experiment proved that the first organic molecules could have been formed from through chemical reactions between the gases in the earth’s atmosphere?
The experiments of Miller and Urey.
3. When did the first organic molecules appear?
The first organic molecule appeared almost 4 billion years ago. Scientists believe RNA is among the first primordial molecules that could self-replicate.
4. What are two examples of organic molecules that scientists think first formed?
Amino acids and nucleotides are thought to have formed first.
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Sources
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First Organic Molecules – Advanced. https://flexbooks.ck12.org/cbook/cbse-biology-class-10/section/3.8/related/lesson/first-organic-molecules-advanced-bio-adv/ Accessed 13 Dec, 2021.
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The Origin and Evolution of Cells. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9841/ Accessed 13 Dec, 2021.
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Hypotheses about the origins of life. https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-biology/natural-selection/origins-of-life-on-earth/a/hypotheses-about-the-origins-of-life Accessed 13 Dec, 2021.
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Origin of Life on Earth. https://bioprinciples.biosci.gatech.edu/module-1-evolution/origin-of-life/ Accessed 13 Dec, 2021.