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Origin of Life on Earth
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 ajor events in the origin and evolution of
life will be examined from a chemical perspective, including the formation of
the solar system, the first reproducing molecules, the evolution of
metabolism, and the search for extra-terrestrial life. |
3 (3-4 hr) labs, 9 1-hr class sessions
- Prerequisites: Level I
- Initial Testing: Fall '97
- Tool Kit: Equilibrium, Dynamics, Energetics, Data Anaylsis, Critical Thinking
- Topics: Le Chatelier's principle, solubility, redox reactions, reaction rates, catalysis, entropy, free energy, nuclear reactions, evaluating reliability, analysis of the impact of the results on society, library searching, evaluating the reliability of information, dealing with ambiguity, deduction and inference
- Interdisciplinary aspects: Atmospheric Science, Environmental Chemistry
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University of California, San Diego
Stanley L. Miller, smiller@ucsd.edu
Jason P. Dworkin
Paul G. Jasien, CSU San Marcos
Interdisciplinary consultants and Co-authors:
Jeffrey Bada, SIO
J. William Schopf, UCLA |
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Description
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This module will reinforce and extend the chemical concepts
learned in Level I by exposing the student (and possibly the professor) to
theories of the origin of life. Major events in the origin and evolution of
life will be examined from a chemical perspective, including the formation of
the solar system, the first reproducing molecules, the evolution of
metabolism, and the search for extra-terrestrial life. The concepts involved
in these theories are inherently interdisciplinary and should interest and aid
students, not only in chemistry, but in biology, geology and physics. In
addition, this module will show students that chemistry is a dynamic field with
many questions not yet answered. |
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Materials to be developed
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- WWW site containing course material
- Slide show
- Video of spark discharge experiment
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- Lab manual
- Student Packet, including homework problems
- Instructor's manual, including exam questions and demonstration instructions
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Copyright ©1995-2000 UC Regents
Last modified: 7/20/02 at 5:59 PM
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