Watching this video about a unicellular organism made me reflect on the evolution of species. For millions of years, Earth lacked complexity in terms of life. Much of what we consider life was confined to these simple forms.
People who don’t understand biology might attribute this to the rational design of an almighty god. However, what we are witnessing is one of the first steps of evolution. From the very first prokaryote, the process of evolution began. To replicate, these simple organisms needed energy sources to maintain their internal chemistry (like the double helix DNA and the membrane protecting this DNA). This process has been extensively studied by scientists and described in detail elsewhere. Initially, these organisms relied on sunlight and hydrothermal sources in our oceans for energy. Perhaps one of the early steps in finding better energy sources was the ability to move. This movement, then encoded in their DNA, allowed them to occupy new niches, giving them an advantage that was passed down to future generations.
Another significant leap in evolution was realizing that energy could also be derived from decomposing organic and inorganic matter, not just from the sun and other natural sources. This process likely began with cells secreting digestive enzymes outside their bodies to absorb energy and materials necessary for reproduction. Eventually, it became more efficient to conduct this process within the living cell, capturing all the energy within a controlled environment.
This led to the development of cells spreading their membranes to increase surface area for absorbing digested material. Evolution favored those individuals that could efficiently reach and utilize dispersed material in the ocean. Even erratic movement could bring them closer to raw materials. Dead organisms floating in the water before sinking to the seabed provided an easy target. Primordial movements were likely related to harnessing energy from the sun and consuming decomposed organic matter.
Individuals with specialized sensors on their membranes that could detect specific nutrients were at an advantage. This increased their chances of finding the right elements for growth and reproduction, leading to greater success. Expanding their membranes was a logical step. When an organism detected the “smell” of nutrients, it would extend its envelope to collect them, leading to the scenes described in the video.
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