Origin of Life on Earth and Early Evolution

Explore the fascinating journey of life's origins and early evolution on Earth in this comprehensive 24-minute video. Delve into the abiotic synthesis of biomolecules, including proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. Learn about the Miller-Urey experiment and competing hypotheses for life's emergence, such as the warm little pond and hydrothermal vent theories. Examine the differences between black and white smoker vents, their unique chemical environments, and their potential role in early life. Discover the three domains of life, endosymbiosis theory, and the earliest fossil evidence of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Follow the evolutionary timeline from the early Precambrian through the Ediacaran fauna to the Cambrian explosion, exploring major invertebrate and vertebrate animal groups. Conclude with a discussion on the implications for extraterrestrial life, providing a comprehensive overview of life's beginnings and early diversification on our planet.

Intro/Outline
Proteins
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Nucleic acids and the RNA world
Hydrothermal vents
Domains of Life
Symbiosis
Oldest fossils
First Eukaryotes
Ediacaran fauna
Cambrian Explosion
Invertebrate groups
Implications for extraterrestrial life