The Prebiotic Stage and the Evolution of Life on Earth

Abstract

The paper is a synthesis of the information collected so far on the origin and evolution of life on Earth. The life appearance and its evolution is correlated to matter evolution in univers: Big Bang, inorganic, organic, prebiotic, unicellular and multicellular stages. Concerning prebiotic stage in life evolution we present our theory based on syntone chemistry. Three syntones-methylene, nitrene and carbon monoxid carried by molecular nitrogen at law temperature could furnish the prebiotic bricks (sugars, lipids, proteins) at the contact to primary atmosphere components. Also, we think that these syntones could be considered as sources of great number of organic molecules. All organisms on Earth descend from a last universal common ancestor (LUCA). Two branches were derived from LUCA: one led to bacteria and the other to archaea and eukaryotes. The appearance of photosynthesis determined a transition from the oxygen-free atmosphere to the oxic atmosphere. Due to a series of endosymbioses, Eukaryotes emerged as organisms with nucleated cells and aerobic metabolism (which significantly increased the efficiency of cellular energy production). At about the same time appeared the first multicellular organisms. The paper also presents other important moments in the evolution of life on Earth, including the major biological crises in certain periods, resulting in the mass extinction of some groups of organisms. The evolution of the living world on Earth culminated with the emergence of man, the most complex being with language, superior thinking, emotions, creativity, etc.