abiogenesis
Life from nonlife
Abiogenesis is the emergence of life from nonliving matter—the process by which the first living organisms arose from inorganic chemicals on early Earth.
The term appears primarily in scientific discussions of life's origins: The theory of abiogenesis proposes that simple organic molecules gradually assembled into self-replicating systems.
Distinct from biogenesis, which holds that life comes only from existing life.
Testable proposed explanation
- spontaneous generationLife arising from nonliving material
- panspermiaLife spreads via space rocks
- astrobiologyStudy of cosmic organisms
- thermodynamicsScience of heat-energy relationships
entropy · emergence · complexity · origin of life · philosophical implications · falsifiability · xenobiology
Hypothetical life-origin mixture
- hydrothermal ventsSubmarine volcanic water jets
- amino acidsOrganic compounds forming proteins
- nucleotidesDNA and RNA subunits
- prebiotic chemistryNon-living molecular synthesis
microspheres · phospholipids · chirality · self-organization · replicators
Evolutionary history of organisms
- common ancestorOrigin point of descendants
- tree of lifeDiagram of evolutionary connections
- prokaryotesOrganisms without membrane-bound nuclei
- archaeaThird domain of life
bacteria · stromatolites · microfossils · Archean · biomarkers · divergence · extremophiles · anaerobic
Amino acid polymers
- enzymesReaction-speeding proteins
- ribosomesCellular translation machinery
- RNAGene expression molecule
- nucleic acidsBiopolymers carrying genetic code
self-replication · metabolism · catalysts · macromolecules · polymerization · biochemistry · adenine · codon
Life spreads via space rocks
- meteoritesExtraterrestrial rocks on Earth
- cometsIcy bodies orbiting stars
- asteroidsSmall solar orbiters
- exoplanetsWorlds orbiting other stars
habitable zones · cosmic dust · space missions · biosignatures · astrobiology · extremophiles · tardigrades · Mars
hypothesis
Testable proposed explanation
- spontaneous generationLife arising from nonliving material
- panspermiaLife spreads via space rocks
- astrobiologyStudy of cosmic organisms
thermodynamics · entropy · emergence · complexity · origin of life · philosophical implications · falsifiability · xenobiology
primordial soup
Hypothetical life-origin mixture
- hydrothermal ventsSubmarine volcanic water jets
- amino acidsOrganic compounds forming proteins
- nucleotidesDNA and RNA subunits
prebiotic chemistry · microspheres · phospholipids · chirality · self-organization · replicators
phylogenesis
Evolutionary history of organisms
- common ancestorOrigin point of descendants
- tree of lifeDiagram of evolutionary connections
- prokaryotesOrganisms without membrane-bound nuclei
archaea · bacteria · stromatolites · microfossils · Archean · biomarkers · divergence · extremophiles · anaerobic · autotrophs
proteins
Amino acid polymers
nucleic acids · self-replication · metabolism · catalysts · macromolecules · polymerization · biochemistry · adenine · codon · anticodon
panspermia
Life spreads via space rocks
- meteoritesExtraterrestrial rocks on Earth
- cometsIcy bodies orbiting stars
- asteroidsSmall solar orbiters
exoplanets · habitable zones · cosmic dust · space missions · biosignatures · astrobiology · extremophiles · tardigrades · Mars
abiogenesisdivine creation
Something fashioned by deity
creationism · special creation · intelligent design · vitalism · creation myth
genetic, genesis, biotic, abiotic, biogenesis, biogenic, genic, biogenetic, abiogenic