Chapter
The Great Oxygenation Event and the Evolution of Life
2:37:36 - 2:46:41 (09:05)
The Great Oxygenation Event, which occurred around 2.2 billion years ago, led to a new stable equilibrium in which cells producing oxygen were balanced by cells consuming it. Oxygen levels continued to rise over hundreds of millions of years, leading to the evolution of complex multicellular life forms.
Clips
This episode discusses the evolution of oxygen on Earth from about 2.2 billion years ago leading up to the time of the Cambrian explosion around 550 million years ago, including the dispute around whether the common ancestor of life on Earth was photosynthetic.
2:37:36 - 2:40:42 (03:06)
Summary
This episode discusses the evolution of oxygen on Earth from about 2.2 billion years ago leading up to the time of the Cambrian explosion around 550 million years ago, including the dispute around whether the common ancestor of life on Earth was photosynthetic.
ChapterThe Great Oxygenation Event and the Evolution of Life
Episode#318 – Nick Lane: Origin of Life, Evolution, Aliens, Biology, and Consciousness
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The world is not in a constant state of evolution, but rather moves to new stable states after reaching tipping points.
2:40:44 - 2:42:29 (01:44)
Summary
The world is not in a constant state of evolution, but rather moves to new stable states after reaching tipping points. These tipping points could lead to a future where life on the planet is habitable, but without humans, as seen in previous extinctions.
ChapterThe Great Oxygenation Event and the Evolution of Life
Episode#318 – Nick Lane: Origin of Life, Evolution, Aliens, Biology, and Consciousness
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
By tracking the carbon isotopes, it is possible to determine how oxygen was consumed from the atmosphere over time.
2:42:31 - 2:46:41 (04:10)
Summary
By tracking the carbon isotopes, it is possible to determine how oxygen was consumed from the atmosphere over time. The ratio of carbon-12 to carbon-13 can indicate the amount of oxygen consumed.