How it got started on earth

1. Formation of Simple Molecules: Roughly 3.5 to 4 billion years ago, Earth’s early atmosphere likely contained gases like methane, ammonia, water vapor, and hydrogen. Ultraviolet radiation, lightning, and volcanic activity could have sparked reactions among these gases, leading to the formation of simple organic molecules like amino acids and sugars.

2. Concentration of Organic Molecules: Over time, these molecules could have accumulated in places like shallow ponds, deep-sea vents, or mineral surfaces. There’s even speculation that meteorites or interstellar dust could have contributed essential components.

3. Formation of Polymers: These simple organic molecules could then have reacted with one another to form more complex polymers, including proteins and nucleic acids. This might have been facilitated by the presence of certain minerals or environmental conditions that acted as catalysts.

4. Encapsulation into Protocells: Eventually, some of these molecules could have formed enclosed structures called protocells. These would have been simple membrane-like structures that housed a mixture of organic materials, possibly exhibiting some life-like characteristics, such as metabolism or replication.

5. Emergence of Genetic Material: Within protocells, the development of self-replicating molecules like RNA would have been a critical step. RNA could have acted both as a catalyst and as a genetic material, storing information required for replication.

6. Evolution Toward Complexity: Once simple replication was established, natural selection could take over, leading to the evolution of more complex and efficient self-replicating systems. Eventually, this would lead to the DNA-based life forms we see today.

7. Transition to Cellular Life: Over time, these evolving systems would become more and more complex, ultimately leading to the formation of true cells with distinct organelles and a more modern genetic code.