🦠 Who's LUCA? LUCA lived more than 3.5 billion years ago and is the great-great-great (and so on) grandparent of bacteria and archaea.
🔬 Detective Work with Genes: Scientists can "time travel" by looking at genes today to figure out what LUCA was like.
The evidence & clues
🧬 Common Genes, Common Ancestors: If bacteria and archaea share the same genes today, they likely inherited them from LUCA.
🌳 Building an Evolutionary Tree: By connecting the dots (genes), scientists can draw a family tree that goes all the way back to LUCA.
What was LUCA Like?
🍽️ LUCA's Diet: LUCA likely ate hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and iron, all found around hydrothermal vents.
🌊 Hydrothermal Vents: Think of them as underwater volcanoes. Hot water and chemicals gush out, and there are different types. LUCA's favorite might have been the "white smokers."
LUCA's neighborhood
🔥 Temperature: White smokers' fluids range from 60°C to 90°C. Hot enough for a serious bath!
⚗️ Chemicals: Full of hydrogen, methane, ammonia, and sulfides, like a buffet for early cells.
🌍 Earth's Early Menu: Plenty of carbon dioxide around at that time for assembling life's building blocks.
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Biology SL
Theme A - Unity & Diversity
Hydrothermal Vents Tracing Back to LUCA's Evolutionary Origins
🦠 Who's LUCA? LUCA lived more than 3.5 billion years ago and is the great-great-great (and so on) grandparent of bacteria and archaea.
🔬 Detective Work with Genes: Scientists can "time travel" by looking at genes today to figure out what LUCA was like.
The evidence & clues
🧬 Common Genes, Common Ancestors: If bacteria and archaea share the same genes today, they likely inherited them from LUCA.
🌳 Building an Evolutionary Tree: By connecting the dots (genes), scientists can draw a family tree that goes all the way back to LUCA.
What was LUCA Like?
🍽️ LUCA's Diet: LUCA likely ate hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and iron, all found around hydrothermal vents.
🌊 Hydrothermal Vents: Think of them as underwater volcanoes. Hot water and chemicals gush out, and there are different types. LUCA's favorite might have been the "white smokers."
LUCA's neighborhood
🔥 Temperature: White smokers' fluids range from 60°C to 90°C. Hot enough for a serious bath!
⚗️ Chemicals: Full of hydrogen, methane, ammonia, and sulfides, like a buffet for early cells.
🌍 Earth's Early Menu: Plenty of carbon dioxide around at that time for assembling life's building blocks.
Unlock the Full Content!
Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Biology SL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟