Geological and evolutionary time

Geological and evolutionary time

Describe the conditions on earth that made life possible for different types of organisms

As accorded by the geologists, the earth is estimated to be around 4.5 billion years. The geologist’s estimation the age of the earth by measuring the ages of the oldest rocks on earth together with those of moon rock and meteorites (Nutman, 535). Therefore these geologists applied the geological time scale to estimate the period in which several events took place in the world.

One of the prerequisites which facilitated the development of life and organisms on earth includes the presence of liquid water. The existing liquid water acted as a universal solvent due to its aptitude of H-bonding. Moreover, liquid water acted as a media for reactivity, a diverse catalyst, and self-organization. Surface liquid water facilitated the existence of life on earth due to its ability to become stable within five hundred million years of the formation of the planet (Nutman, 535). The geological time scale portrays that the liquid water has been present on earth for a period of 4.3 billion years.

Another focal aspect that contributed to the existence of life on earth was the availability of cradles of energy. These sources of energy include solar rays, heat, lightning, and cosmic rays, which were pivotal information of biomolecules edifice blocks from simple molecules. The origins of energy provided a conducive environment for which living organisms acquired warmth that propagated their survival (Lososová, 1086). Furthermore, the prevalence of appropriate chemical conditions had a huge role to play when it came to the existence of life on earth. Such essential chemicals were present in the simple molecules and from that expedited foundation of building blocks for the biomolecules. These chemicals also obtained a conducive base since there was an appropriate thermal state.

The temperatures were ample enough to enhance the chemical reactions, which facilitated biomolecule development.  The temperatures were sufficient enough to ensure thermal stability. The extreme conditions were prevailing as a result of favorable temperature enhanced existence of hyperthermophilic bacteria, which can subsist up to a temperature of 113°C. The limit of this temperature extends to about121°C. These chemicals and favorable temperatures furthermore facilitated sustainable sites for biosynthesis.

Additionally, there is a connection between the history of the existence of life and the change in environment and climate witnessed in the current era. Undoubtedly, the presence of life influences the composition of the atmosphere and, thereby, the weather also. Several living organisms inhale and exhale gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide and methane at a different rate (Lososová, 1086). Therefore, these gases have an impact on the climate and environmental conditions, majorly having a negative effect on the globe, such as global warming and a rise in temperatures.

A research study conducted illustrates that the climate has undergone a gradual alteration from the past and has now ensued to histrionic swings and modifications of the ecosystem. However, it has been evident that a specific climate can be an advantage to a particular species and a desolation to another different species (Beck, 82). Therefore as a means of responding to the changing environment and weather, the living organisms on earth either adapt or reduces in number.

Works Cited

Beck, Ulrich. “Emancipatory catastrophism: What does it mean to climate change and risk society?.” Current Sociology63.1 (2015): 75-88.

Lososová, Zdeňka, et al. “Phylogenetic structure of plant species pools reflects habitat age on the geological time scale.” Journal of Vegetation Science 26.6 (2015): 1080-1089.

Nutman, Allen P., et al. “Rapid emergence of life shown by discovery of 3,700-million-year-old microbial structures.” Nature 537.7621 (2016): 535.