BIO 258 Notes
WEEK #3.
THE HISTORY OF LIFE ON EARTH

• The origin of life. (Futuyma ch. 7; Minkoff Ch. 25; E35).
  • Spontaneous generation; experiments of Redi, Spallanzani, Pasteur;
  • Oparin and Miller
  • Chemical evolution of small molecules; methods of aggregation & polymerization; individuality; protoselection
  • Protein synthesis problem (protein first vs DNA first)
  __________
• Origin of eucaryotes (Minkoff Ch. 26A; E36a).
  • Symbiotic theory & evidence
  • Eucaryotic kingdoms & adaptations
  • Highlights of eucaryote evolution:
    • Protists
    • Fungi
    • Plants
    • Animals
  __________
• Vertebrate evolution (E36b)
  • Vertebrate origins
  • Early jawless vertebrates
  • Origin of jaws; fish evolution
  • Amphibians and the transition to land
  • Reptiles and the amniote egg
  • Birds and flight
  • Mammals and homeothermy

BIO 258 Home             BIO 258 Syllabus

Week 2

Week 4

revised Jan. 2006 (3)