GEOL 1400 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Polymerase Chain Reaction, Thermus Aquaticus, Sulfur Dioxide
Document Summary
Loss of hydrogen and helium due to gravitational escape -- earth had no atmosphere. First stable atmosphere formed by volcanic outgassing (carbon dioxide, water, sulfur dioxide) Amino acids into peptides -- come from volcanic gas (carbonyl sulfide cos) -- condensing agent. Miller-urey experiment: created amino acids (by chance) and made model of first atmosphere. Black smoker theory: early ocean had positively charged protons, black smokers had negatively charged ions. Vents had walls that separated 2 fluids and created natural charge gradient. battery to fuel creation of proto-cells; a way life began on earth (but not proven) Organisms that live in extreme conditions (detrimental to other life forms) Typically do not need oxygen to survive (anaerobic) Live in high sulfur environments, gain energy by reducing sulfur. Open new possibilities to create life in other places in the universe. Bacteria tolerates high temperatures (anywhere from 50-80 degrees c) Only found in a few hotspots around the world.