Chemosynthetic theory

We know that the Earth managed to form makes approximately one billion five of years . At that time, the whole place was extremely hot and the existence of any kind of living being in that environment and at that high temperature was simply impossible . When we speak of the origin of life , we speak of the appearance of the simplest primordial life which arose from non-living matter . The evolution then it means the gradual formation of complex organisms from simpler ones and this is where comes to play an important rolechemosynthetic theory .

What does it consist of

The chemosynthetic theory also known as the biosynthetic or physicochemical theory of the origin of life is a theory that consists of the hypothesis that says that life on planet Earth was formed after the primitive molecules were grouped which with the passage over time they became more complex until they managed to shape the first cells .

Characteristics of the chemosynthetic theory

Among the main characteristics that are part of the chemosynthetic theory, the following are mentioned:

• It is a theory well accepted by scientists .
• Explain the way in which the origin of life occurred through chemical evolution and by various physical phenomena that occurred in matter.
• States that the different molecules are joined to form groups achieve.
• It is also used to explain the different chemical evolutions and physical phenomena that occur on the planet.
• It was based on the Big Bang Theory that said that the earth had been created by means of hydrogen gas to later give rise to the sun and the rest of the planets .

History

Many theories have already been proposed trying several to explain the origin of life. The most accepted is the chemosynthetic theory , proposed by AI Oparin which states that life could have originated through a series of combinations of chemical substances in water. Its history refers to the fact that the Earth originated about 5,000 million years ago and that in its beginnings it was formed by hot gases and vapors of various chemical substances which with the passage of time cooled, forming a solid crust .

On the surface warm the Earth were heavy rains , and during a period that took many years were appeared the bodies of water containing hot water . Then the methane and ammonia that was present in the atmosphere is dissolved in the water of seas. In the water of the seas, a large number of chemical reactions began to take place that gave rise to amino acids , nitrogenous bases , sugars and fatty acids which at the same time reacted and combined to create the biomolecules of life, such as proteins and nucleic acids.

It establishes as part of its history that the primitive atmosphere of the Earth did not have free oxygen but that with the passage of time, organisms that had chlorophyll released free oxygen , which gave life greater possibilities of evolution .

In 1953 , Stanley Miller and Harold C. Urey started an experiment with a hermetic apparatus in which four gases (NH4, CH4, H2, and H2O) were subjected to an electrical discharge over the course of a week . When they analyzed the liquid, they found various organic substances in it , such as amino acids, urea, acetic acid, and lactic acid.

This is how the formation of simpler elements was verified under conditions similar to those that the primitive atmosphere had. It was established that the elements could join and then form a series of chemical chains that would later lead to the formation of proteins and nucleic acids .

Who developed it

This theory was developed and proposed around the same time by two leading scientists who were working independently. Alexander I. Oparin , a biochemist of Russian nationality and John BS Haldane , a biologist of English nationality were responsible for developing it. It is also important to mention other scientists who participated in the development as they gave their contributions in terms of knowledge, this is the case of Stanley L. Miller and Harold Clayton Urey .

Stages of chemosynthetic theory

The stages of chemosynthetic theory are as follows:

• First stage: in this stage there was the formation of simpler and simpler substances, fatty acids, amino acids, nitrogenous bases and carbohydrates.
• Second stage: in the second stage, it was possible to form proteins, acids, polysaccharides, the most complex organic substances.
• Third stage: substances such as proteins, nitrates, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids and potassium nitrate were formed here.

Explanation

The chemosynthetic theory is a theory that establishes that the hydrogen that was present millions of years ago in the primordial atmosphere managed to react with the carbon , nitrogen and oxygen atoms , giving shape to a type of nutritive broth . This substance, when it came into contact with other forms of primitive energy sources, could give rise to amino acids , which are a fundamental part of organic life.

It is a theory that also establishes that the primitive atmosphere had a large number of important characteristics that made it possible for reductive type reactions to occur , since otherwise the components of this nutritive broth would have disappeared. For this reason, many of those who support the theory assure that in the beginning, the conditions of the planet did not include oxygen because if they had been, oxidation reactions would not have been present and life would not have been able to develop.

Further asserts that the nutrient broth or eldest soup as is known was a kind of agglomeration of nutritive liquids and through this was achieved form the first seas when the atmosphere and cooled to be produced a condensation of the water vapor that it came from volcanoes . Later, different structures that were more complex also appeared, which arose thanks to the energy sources that came from electrical storms , solar radiation and the eruptions of volcanoes.

It also establishes that the coacervates appeared in the first-born broth , a type of very complex species that, when faced with cell division, managed to unite in the same structure and then acquire a membrane that transformed them into unique and different organisms that also had the ability to carry out auto synthesis in order to produce their food. These forms evolved over time, became more stable and became living structures.

Importance of chemosynthetic theory

This theory is important because it is part of the group of theories that have emerged in an attempt to explain the origin of life . Through it, scientists have managed to get a better idea of ​​what conditions were on the planet when it had just formed and how organisms were emerging from a completely scientific point of view.