
New Area of Focus: What does it mean to
be living?
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• What does it mean to be living?
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Video! Introduction to the Characteristics of
Life…Maybe.
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juxLuo-sH6M
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Organism: Any living thing
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Characteristics of living things
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Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Made of SPONCH ingredients.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Made of cells.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Moves.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Plants have limited movement but they
can move.
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Responds to a stimulus.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Uses Energy.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Adjusts to Changes.
 Maintains
steady body conditions.
 Maintains homeostasis.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Adjusts to Changes.
 Maintains
steady body conditions.
 Maintains homeostasis.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Adjusts to Changes.
 Maintains
steady body conditions.
 Maintains homeostasis.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Reproduces.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Has a life span.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Grows and Develops.
 Grow-To
increase in size.
 Develop-To change in ability.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Grows and Develops.
 Grow-To
increase in size.
 Develop-To change in ability.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Grows and Develops.
 Grow-To
increase in size.
 Develop-To change in ability.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Adapts to Change.
 Evolves
/ Inherits traits that promote survival.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Adapts to Change.
 Evolves
/ Inherits traits that promote survival.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Needs of Living Things
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Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Energy: Supplied by the sun
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Oxygen: To burn the food in cells.
(Respiration)
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Oxygen: To burn the food in cells.
(Respiration)
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Water: To keep things moving in and out
of cells. (Universal Solvent)
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Minerals- For proper chemical balance.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Video Link! Characteristic of Living Things.
• (Optional)
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS6TgAdb
aRw
• How did life begin?
– Please write your short but specific theory.
– The only wrong answer is no answer at all.

In Science theory
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In Science theory
 Abiogenesis
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explains the origin of life.

In Science theory
 Abiogenesis
explains the origin of life.
 Evolution explains how life has changed once it
exists.
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
In Science theory
 Abiogenesis
explains the origin of life.
 Evolution explains how life has changed once it
exists.
 The
two are different.

Four general ideas about the origin of life.
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Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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Special creation: Divine forces (God).
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

E.T. extraterrestrial origin: Life landed
here from space.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Some scientists believe that the rod-shaped
structures across the top and center of this
meteorite may be tiny fossilized bacteria.
– Many other scientists believe that the structures
were formed by processes other than life.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Some scientists believe that the rod-shaped
structures across the top and center of this
meteorite may be tiny fossilized bacteria.
– Many other scientists believe that the structures
were formed by processes other than life.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Amino acids have been found within
meteorites.
– Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
• Do turtles spontaneously emerge from the
sand as new life?
• Answer. No, turtles lay eggs in the sand
that hatch into baby turtles.

Spontaneous origin (abiogenesis): Life came
from non-living materials.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Francesco Redi – (1668)
– People believed flies spontaneously came
from meat.
– Redi covered one flask, left one open to air
– Observed flies laying eggs on meat.
– Flies come from flies.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Francesco Redi – (1668)
– People believed flies spontaneously came
from meat.
– Redi covered one flask, left one open to air
– Observed flies laying eggs on meat.
– Flies come from flies.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Francesco Redi – (1668)
– People believed flies spontaneously came
from meat.
– Redi covered one flask, left one open to air.
– Observed flies laying eggs on meat.
– Flies come from flies.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Francesco Redi – (1668)
– People believed flies spontaneously came
from meat.
– Redi covered one flask, left one open to air.
– Observed flies laying eggs on meat.
– Flies come from flies.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Francesco Redi – (1668)
– People believed flies spontaneously came
from meat.
– Redi covered one flask, left one open to air.
– Observed flies laying eggs on meat.
– Flies come from flies. Life comes from life.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Life only comes from pre-existing life. Except of
course for the first form of life. Science has
disproven but also suggests abiogenesis.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Pasteur' s experiments (1860' s) showed
that micro-organisms are even carried in
the air.
• Both flasks boiled to sterilize
Micro-organisms trapped in swan
• Open to air (broth spoils).
and broth does not spoil.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Pasteur' s experiments (1860' s) showed
that micro-organisms are even carried in
the air.
• Both flasks boiled to sterilize
Micro-organisms trapped in swan
• Open to air (broth spoils).
and broth does not spoil.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Pasteur' s experiments (1860' s) showed
that micro-organisms are even carried in
the air.
• Both flasks boiled to sterilize
Micro-organisms trapped in swan
• Open to air (broth spoils).
and broth does not spoil.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Pasteur' s experiments (1860' s) showed
that micro-organisms are even carried in
the air.
• Both flasks boiled to sterilize
Micro-organisms trapped in swan
• Open to air (broth spoils).
and broth does not spoil.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Pasteur' s experiments (1860' s) showed
that micro-organisms are even carried in
the air.
• Both flasks boiled to sterilize
Micro-organisms trapped in swan
• Open to air (broth spoils).
and broth does not spoil.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Pasteur' s experiments (1860' s) showed
that micro-organisms are even carried in
the air.
• Both flasks boiled to sterilize
Micro-organisms trapped in swan
• Open to air (broth spoils).
and broth does not spoil.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Pasteur' s experiments (1860' s) showed
that micro-organisms are even carried in
the air.
• Both flasks boiled to sterilize
Micro-organisms trapped in swan
• Open to air (broth spoils).
and broth does not spoil.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Pasteur' s experiments (1860' s) showed
that micro-organisms are even carried in
the air.
• Both flasks boiled to sterilize
Micro-organisms trapped in swan
• Open to air (broth spoils).
and broth does not spoil.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Pasteur' s experiments (1860' s) showed
that micro-organisms are even carried in
the air.
• Both flasks boiled to sterilize
Micro-organisms trapped in swan
• Open to air (broth spoils).
and broth does not spoil.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Pasteur' s experiments (1860' s) showed
that micro-organisms are even carried in
the air.
• Both flasks boiled to sterilize
Micro-organisms trapped in swan
• Open to air (broth spoils).
and broth does not spoil.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Pasteur' s experiments (1860' s) showed
that micro-organisms are even carried in
the air.
• Both flasks boiled to sterilize
Micro-organisms trapped in swan
• Open to air (broth spoils).
and broth does not spoil.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Pasteur' s experiments (1860' s) showed
that micro-organisms are even carried in
the air.
• Both flasks boiled to sterilize
Micro-organisms trapped in swan
• Open to air (broth spoils).
and broth does not spoil.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Pasteur' s experiments (1860' s) showed
that micro-organisms are even carried in
the air.
• Both flasks boiled to sterilize
Micro-organisms trapped in swan
• Open to air (broth spoils).
and broth does not spoil.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• As a result (Pasteur) – Sterilization of tools
– Helped save millions.
• In 1953 Stanley Miller and Harold Urey
performed the first experiment that
produced amino acids in what was
assumed to be a pre-life atmosphere.
Miller Urey Experiment
Apparatus
• They passed a
mixture of water
vapor, methane,
hydrogen and
ammonia gases
through an
electric arc to
simulate what
would happen if
these gases
were subjected
to lightning.
Miller Urey Experimental Results
•
•
•
•
10 biologic amino acid types
25 non-biologic amino acid types
Formaldehyde
Sugars

Origins of the Universe, a timeline.
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Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
Big Bang roughly 13.7 billion years ago.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
Big Bang roughly 13.7 billion years ago.
Give or take about
120 million years
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

4.6 billion years ago: Earth was created.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
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3.8 billion years ago: life arose.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Early Earth was a primeval soup.
(SPONCH soup)
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Early Earth was a harsh place of extreme
temperatures and chemicals.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Stromatolites are some of the oldest
known fossils, dating back more than 3
billion years
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Gypsum Daisy: Extremely old fossil.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

Prebionts: Nonliving structures that
evolved into the first living cells. (Simple)
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• .
• This is the Apex Chert,
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• This is the Apex Chert, a place in Australia that
contains the oldest rocks on Earth.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• This is the Apex Chert, a place in Australia that
contains the oldest rocks on Earth. Within these
rocks fossils have been found and dated 3.465
billion years ago.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• This is the Apex Chert, a place in Australia that
contains the oldest rocks on Earth. Within these
rocks fossils have been found and dated 3.465
billion years ago.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• This is a Cyanobacteria from the Apex Chert
after staining.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Picture of microbial life from the Barberton Formation
in South Africa, of 3.4 billion years of age.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

2 billion years ago: Oxygen began to
saturate the atmosphere.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

1.8 billion years ago: Eukaryotic cells (single cells
with a nucleus) evolved.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Small wormlike creatures dated to 1.2 Billion years
ago.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Explosion and radiation of animals in the sea in
the Vendian Period. 605 million years ago.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• 520 million years ago during the Cambrian
Period, the oceans had a wide diversity of
animals.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• The late Ordovican.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• The Devonian Period of 375 million years ago
saw an explosion of amphibians.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• A visual timeline.
3.8 Billions of Years ago
Present
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• A visual timeline.
3.8 Billions of Years ago
Present
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• A visual timeline.
3.8 Billions of Years ago
Present
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• A visual timeline.
3.8 Billions of Years ago
Present
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• A visual timeline.
3.8 Billions of Years ago
Present
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• A visual timeline.
3.8 Billions of Years ago
Present
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• A visual timeline.
3.8 Billions of Years ago
Present
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• A visual timeline.
3.8 Billions of Years ago
Present
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• A visual timeline.
“Hoot” “Hoot”
“Birds didn’t evolve
until much later.”
3.8 Billions of Years ago
Present
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• A visual timeline.
3.8 Billions of Years ago
Present
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• A visual timeline.
3.8 Billions of Years ago
Present
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• A visual timeline.
3.8 Billions of Years ago
Present
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• A visual timeline.
3.8 Billions of Years ago
Present
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• A visual timeline.
3.8 Billions of Years ago
Present
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• A visual timeline.
3.8 Billions of Years ago
Present
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• In 1977, Every scientists jaws dropped, the
book about how life, and ecosystems works
was dropped on its head.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• An entire unknown ecosystem was found
thriving in the deepest parts of the ocean
around hydrothermal vents.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• An entire unknown ecosystem was found
thriving in the deepest parts of the ocean
around hydrothermal vents.
– A place nobody suspected to find life.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Life exists at…
– Temperatures are incredibly cold in the deep
ocean away from a vent.
– Temperature are incredibly hot near the volcanic
activity.
– Enormous pressures
– Acidic environment 2.8 pH
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Life exists at…
– Temperatures are incredibly cold in the deep
ocean away from a vent.
– Temperature are incredibly hot near the volcanic
activity.
– Enormous pressures
– Acidic environment 2.8 pH
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Life exists at…
– Temperatures are incredibly cold in the deep
ocean away from a vent.
– Temperature are incredibly hot near the volcanic
activity.
– Enormous pressures
– Acidic environment 2.8 pH
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Life exists at…
– Temperatures are incredibly cold in the deep
ocean away from a vent.
– Temperature are incredibly hot near the volcanic
activity.
– Enormous pressures
– Acidic environment 2.8 pH
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Life exists at…
– Temperatures are incredibly cold in the deep
ocean away from a vent.
– Temperature are incredibly hot near the volcanic
activity.
– Enormous pressures
– Acidic environment 2.8 pH
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
• Life exists at…
– Temperatures are incredibly cold in the deep
ocean away from a vent.
– Temperature are incredibly hot near the
volcanic activity.
– Pressures at these depths are enormous.
– Acidic environment 2.8 pH
– There is no light.
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy
“I don’t
really even
need eyes
anymore.”
• Even microscopic organisms at this depth
are unique.
• How does this type of ecosystem exist
without sunlight?
– Where does the energy come from?