primordial soup
Prebiotic chemical broth
Primordial soup is the hypothetical mixture of organic compounds in Earth's early oceans from which life is thought to have originated.
The term evokes a warm, nutrient-rich broth where simple molecules combined into increasingly complex structures over millions of years.
Figuratively, any chaotic mix of elements from which something new might emerge: The startup scene was a primordial soup of ideas and ambition.
Life from inanimate matter
- genesisPoint of creation
- beginningInitial stage of something
- emergenceComing into existence
- creationMaking something exist
inception · nascence · spontaneous generation · prebiotic · biogenesis · common ancestor · self-organization · complexity
Organic compounds forming proteins
- proteinsAmino acid polymers
- nucleotidesDNA and RNA subunits
- peptidesBonded amino acid sequences
- moleculesBonded atomic groups
organic compounds · synthesis · polymers · monomers · catalysts · enzymes · macromolecules · phospholipids
Submarine volcanic water jets
- oceanMassive saltwater body
- volcanicOf fiery mountain origin
- atmosphereGaseous layer around planets
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
ammonia · hydrogen · lightning · ultraviolet · thermal energy · deep sea · black smokers · tidal pools
Differential reproductive success
- DarwinismNatural selection theory
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- self-replicationAutonomous copying of oneself
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
genetic code · heredity · selection pressure · phylogeny · tree of life · divergence · complexity · survival
- experimentSystematic investigation procedure
- theoryExplanatory set of principles
- simulationImitation of real processes
- laboratoryFacility for scientific investigation
conditions · atmosphere · electrical discharge · Darwin · scientific model · evidence · research · synthesis
Totally without arrangement
- formlessLacking definite shape
- mixtureCombined but unbonded substances
- melting potCultural fusion place
- breeding groundPlace where something proliferates
incubator · crucible · cauldron · starting point · fertile ground
abiogenesis
Life from inanimate matter
creation · inception · nascence · spontaneous generation · prebiotic · biogenesis · common ancestor · self-organization · complexity
amino acids
Organic compounds forming proteins
- proteinsAmino acid polymers
- nucleotidesDNA and RNA subunits
- peptidesBonded amino acid sequences
molecules · organic compounds · synthesis · polymers · monomers · catalysts · enzymes · macromolecules · phospholipids · polymerization
hydrothermal vents
Submarine volcanic water jets
- oceanMassive saltwater body
- volcanicOf fiery mountain origin
- atmosphereGaseous layer around planets
methane · ammonia · hydrogen · lightning · ultraviolet · thermal energy · deep sea · black smokers · tidal pools · hot springs
natural selection
Differential reproductive success
- DarwinismNatural selection theory
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- self-replicationAutonomous copying of oneself
mutation · genetic code · heredity · selection pressure · phylogeny · tree of life · divergence · complexity · survival · reproduction
Oparin
- experimentSystematic investigation procedure
- theoryExplanatory set of principles
- simulationImitation of real processes
laboratory · conditions · atmosphere · electrical discharge · Darwin · scientific model · evidence · research · synthesis
chaotic
Totally without arrangement
- formlessLacking definite shape
- mixtureCombined but unbonded substances
- melting potCultural fusion place
breeding ground · incubator · crucible · cauldron · starting point · fertile ground
- originsbeginning, birth, creation, source, roots
- Chinese Mythologycreation story, Jade Emperor, white snake, celestial beings, fox spirits
- Early Earthearly life, abiogenesis, prokaryotes, single-celled organisms, cyanobacteria
- Earth history eventsice age, volcanic eruption, mass extinction, asteroid impact, continental drift
- origins debatecreationism, evolution, intelligent design, creation science, Darwinism
- scientific theoriesatomic theory, evolution, big bang theory, quantum theory, string theory
primordial soupmass extinction
Large-scale species elimination
end times · biosphere · complex life · extinction event · apex predator
primordial souppanspermia
Life spreads via space rocks
deep-sea vents · extraterrestrial origin · divine creation · intelligent design · creationism