Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Conditions on Early Earth

Conditions on Early Earth

Around 4 billion years ago, oceans began to condense on earth while volcanic eruptions released nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen into the primordial atmosphere. However, organisms with the characteristics of life were not initially present on earth. Scientists have used experimentation to determine how organisms evolved that could grow, reproduce, and maintain an internal environment.

The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes

The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes

The “tree of life” describes the evolution of life and the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The root of the tree is the common ancestor to all life on Earth. All other species radiate from this point, much like the branches of a tree. The numerous tips of these branches on the tree of life represent every living, or extant, species. Extinct species, which are species that no longer exist, can be found towards the center of the tree. Currently, these organisms, both extant and...

Conditions on Early Earth

Conditions on Early Earth

Around 4 billion years ago, oceans began to condense on earth while volcanic eruptions released nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen into the primordial atmosphere. However, organisms with the characteristics of life were not initially present on earth. Scientists have used experimentation to determine how organisms evolved that could grow, reproduce, and maintain an internal environment.

Eukaryotic Evolution

Eukaryotic Evolution

The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...

Three-Domain System of Life

Three-Domain System of Life

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequence analysis revealed three distinct groups of cells: eukaryotes, bacteria, and archaea. In 1978, Carl R. Woese proposed the concept of domains, a taxonomic level above kingdoms, to differentiate these groups. He suggested that archaea and bacteria, despite their similar appearance, represent separate domains. Domains differ in rRNA, membrane lipid structure, transfer RNA, and antibiotic sensitivity.In this classification, animals, plants, and fungi belong to the...

Origin of Cellular Life

Origin of Cellular Life

The origin of life on Earth is a complex and enigmatic event rooted in ancient biochemical processes and geological conditions. Experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that life began with the spontaneous formation of organic molecules such as RNA nucleotides, amino acids, and lipids under early Earth conditions. Factors like volcanic activity, intense UV radiation, and a reducing atmosphere without free oxygen likely facilitated these reactions. Hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor are...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Cases of Poisoning by Oxymuriate of Mercury.

Edinburgh medical and surgical journal·2018

Same author

Scales of climatic variability and time averaging in Pleistocene biotas: implications for ecology and evolution.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011

Same author

Designer snails.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011

Same author

Climate change and the integrity of science.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2010

Same author

Defining phyla: evolutionary pathways to metazoan body plans.

Evolution & development·2002

Same author

J. John Sepkoski Jr. (1948-1999).

Paleobiology·2001

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Conducting Miller-Urey Experiments

Conducting Miller-Urey Experiments

Published on: January 21, 2014

Multiple origins of life.

D M Raup, J W Valentine

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|May 1, 1983

Summary

Life

Area of Science:

Astrobiology and evolutionary biology.
Origin of life research.
Theoretical biology and biodiversity.

Background:

Primitive Earth conditions may have facilitated the ready origin of life.
The possibility of multiple independent origins of life (polyphyletic origin) is considered.
Current biodiversity may stem from a single lineage (monophyletic origin).

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the probability of life's survival under various origin scenarios.
To model the diversification and extinction dynamics of early life.
To assess whether a monophyletic biota is a likely outcome of multiple origins.

Main Methods:

Development and application of simple stochastic models.
Simulation of life's diversification and extinction processes.

More Related Videos

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin

Published on: August 14, 2018

Simulation of Early Earth Hydrothermal Chimneys in a Thermal Gradient Environment

Simulation of Early Earth Hydrothermal Chimneys in a Thermal Gradient Environment

Published on: February 27, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Conducting Miller-Urey Experiments

Conducting Miller-Urey Experiments

Published on: January 21, 2014

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin

Published on: August 14, 2018

Simulation of Early Earth Hydrothermal Chimneys in a Thermal Gradient Environment

Simulation of Early Earth Hydrothermal Chimneys in a Thermal Gradient Environment

Published on: February 27, 2021

Analysis of probabilities associated with multiple independent origins of life.

Main Results:

The probability of life's long-term survival is low without multiple origins.
Given survival, multiple independent origins likely lead to the extinction of all but one lineage.
A monophyletic biota is a probable outcome even with numerous independent origins.

Conclusions:

Multiple origins of life increase the likelihood of life's persistence.
The current monophyletic biota is consistent with numerous independent origins followed by mass extinction.
The survival of our specific life form does not indicate its uniqueness or inherent superiority.