Transcript Topic 3: The Evolution of Life on Earth

Life on Earth
Topic 5: Evolution of Living Things
Part of the Evolution of Australian Biota Module
Biology in Focus, Preliminary Course
Glenda Childrawi and Stephanie Hollis
DOT Point
 Identify the major stages in the evolution of living things,
including the formation of:
 Organic molecules
 Membranes
 Procaryotic heterotrophic cells
 Procaryotic autotrophic cells
 Eucaryotic cells
 Colonial organisms
 Multicellular organisms
Evolution of living things
It is believed that the environment on early Earth provided
conditions for inorganic molecules to form organic molecules,
and then for organic molecules to react with each other to form
more complex organic compounds.
divinglore.com
Evolution of living things
To metabolise effectively, complex organic compounds
needed to separate from their surroundings and form
membranes, which would result in the first primitive living
cells.
origeminorganicadopetroleo.blogspot.com
Evolution of living things
To advance, cells over time
needed to develop
specialised compartments
to carry out different
chemical reactions. These
would have become the
first eucaryotic cells.
mcld.co.uk
Evolution of living things
Co-operation between cells would have resulted in colonial
organisms, which in turn with higher organisation develop into
multicellular organisms.
isengrim.com
These changes would have extended over very long periods of
time and involved far more complex changes than those that
were just summarised.
Evolution of living things
The changes that were believed to occur from one organism
type to another did not mean that all organisms of that group
changed.
serc.carleton.edu
In fact, some members of these groups are known to have
continued from the original forms to present day procaryotic
autotrophic organisms. (eg. Cyanobacteria)
Evolution of living things
The major stages in the evolution of living things can be
observed in Table 2.1 (handout)
-Look at and discuss table
coolhunting.com
Activity
Students to complete an Evolution of Life Timeline (see
handout)