Planet of Life Part 1 Birth of Earth Film

  1. Earth formed about 4.6 billion years ago. At 3.6 Billion years ago the seas formed. White Island off the coast of New Zealand mimics this early history as it is a volcanic island. Hydrogen sulphide and sulphur are present in large quantities. Yet life exists there at 200 degrees F in the water. Life as we know it originated in a tidal pool type environment @ 3.5 - 4 billion years ago.
  2. All living things are made up of cells. There @ 60 trillion cells in the average human body.
  3. Dr. David Deamer at the University of California at Santa Cruz studies the origins of the DNA molecule mixing science and music.
  4. Dr. Richard Lutz of Rutger’s University a marine ecologist surveys the sea floor at 1 1/2 miles down to study hydrothermal vents and hydrogen sulfide bacteria. His research is conducted from the Atlantis II and the mini-sub Alvin from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Over 300 species have been discovered including: giant tube worms, crabs, and bathysaurus fish.
  5. Dr. Mike Freeman of the Western Australia Survey Bureau studies ancient cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) fossils called stromatolites in Pilbara western Australia. This region was an ancient sea floor at 3.5 billion years ago.
  6. Dr. Tomohiko Tiera of the University of Tokyo also works in the same area studying layers of such fossils in chert rock.
  7. The Hamlin Pool near Shark Bay in western Australia has both fossil cyanobacteria and living forms. These early oxygen releasing forms are responsible for iron deposits as oxygen reacted with iron oar to produce ferric oxide in the early seas.
  8. Dr. Lynn Margullis of the University of Massachusetts at Amhurst works in Delta del Evero in Spain studying early symbiosis that resulted in modern cells. Symbiosis between primitive hard shelled and soft bacteria resulted in the formation of mitochondria. A symbiotic relationship that allows modern cells to utilize oxygen.
  9. Dr. Quong Jiong of the University of Tennessee studies amoeba from fresh water environments. Bacteria infections developed a symbiotic interaction much like that of early earth situations.