What is Chemical Evolution?

Have you ever wondered how life first got started on Earth? So do scientists! Though the question has not yet been fully answered, a careful study of Chemical Evolution is beginning to shed light on this mystery.

In this film you will learn what Chemical Evolution is, how it works, and how it is different from Biological Evolution.

This animation was paid for by the Center for Chemical Evolution, the National Science Foundation, and NASA!

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For an overview of research that has been done on abiotic fatty-acid membrane formation, check out this paper by Dr. Pierre-Alain Monnard and Stated Clearly’s science advisor Dr. David W. Deamer.

Read about the solubility of fatty-acids in warm water. It is this solubility of fatty acids which allows natural selection to sort them out of the mess they are typically produced in during abiotic synthesis.

Learn of the bio-molecules discovered on meteorites. These biomolecules were not produced by living creatures, instead, they were created abiotically in a way similar to how we think the first biomolecules formed on Earth!

Learn of research done by the Center For Chemical Evolution on a possible precursor to modern genes!

Check out more of the work done by Center for Chemical Evolution:

Visit the Stated Clearly website for more on genetics, evolution, and the origin of life:

CORRECTIONS:

[Haggisfondler]

Great video. As a biologist i love seeing concise scientific media targeted at educating the general public. Its not easy to simplify complex topics into a package that can be understood by people that don't necessarily come from a scientific background, but in this instance you have nicely covered the main processes but left enough to spur on those with a healthy interest to seek further information .It seems like you have amassed the right people for the job. Keep up the good work.

[Kevin-cmkc]

This blew my freakin' mind. So 6:30 would essentially form a primitive lipid bilayer? Then like a billion years later, that series of chemical reactions is still going... and I'm one of them (O__O )

[Unfawkable]

This series needs and deserves so much more episodes. Excellent work, love all your videos.

[besmart]

So great to see a new video from you guys!

[adic]

Why did I just find this channel? You're so good I'm going to share this with anyone who cares to listen.

[XBoY]

Now you know what to blame for your existance

[vikashsharma]

Every video of 'Stated Clearly' lives up to its name.

[kazearaki]

The best evolutionary biology source on YouTube and most importantly understandable to laymen.

[Yui]

I've been exposed to a lot of material pertaining to evolution and at no point was chemical evolution mentioned. I always wondered how chemicals made a transition into life and this video was very insightful despite not being able to provide an answer.

[mohsenheydari]

You are discussing very complex scientific topics in the simplest way, while it's still accurate. Many thanks for your valuable videos.

[nesslig]

to be clear evolution is defined as descent with inherent modification so abiogenesis can't be a part of evolution. However the word evolution can be used in different ways so here the word evolution simply means change over time.

[eventhorizon]

I absolutely love these videos!

The vector/cell shading art style paired with great content make these some of the best educational videos on YouTube. Thanks and keep up the great work!

[copticvillage]

I really hope that this informational gap can be closed soon, its so annoying seeing all these people acting as if they are right about the origin of life just because we don't completely understand it.

[JG-vhoy]

I got an ad about accepting Jesus on this video

[alz]

you have the best videos on evolution topics that i have seen

[flobiish]

"...protect the plant from deadly predators." [insert Bambi here]

[Buckets]

When I next get paid I'm donating to this channel. The videos are so beautiful to watch.

[jdgrahamo]

This is about the best explanation I've come across. Usually either there are missing steps or the explanation is far too arcane. Well done and thank you.

[egretion]

Woa! My husband & I went to a Science Cafe event in Athens GA. Chris Parsons came and presented a few of the videos. Today is a rainy Sunday & we are going to spend the day watching all the Stated Clearly videos. I sent them to my son's highschool chemistry teacher in British Columbia - including " What is the Miller Urey Experiment" which mentions research being done at SFU. Thank you for making this videos! They are excellent!

[jdonnorland]

there was an some article i read once about this guy theorizing that life naturally occurs because of the attraction between different combinations of atoms. which of course is what this video is talking about. I find that extremely interesting, first because it seems logical and that if its true life isn't accidental it's inevitable. I love thinking about these sort of things. I can't wait to watch more of your videos. perhaps a video about thermodynamics!