30 evolution: the ages and tomorrow 



continuous synthesis throughout all nature— from the sub- 

 atomic to the atomic to the molecular to man. 



Haldane, who has recently applied E. A. iMilne's theory 

 of kinematical relativity to the problem of the origin of life, 

 thinks that all the early stages of the synthesis were long 

 delayed, awaiting the evolution of a sufficiently high energy 

 release from molecular transformation. We do know that 

 the first half of geological time on this earth, some 1,000,- 

 000,000 years, passed before life was able to reach definite 

 multicellular complexity. Haldane thinks that the virus level 

 of evolution was very long delayed and that the viruses 

 made repeated efforts to reach the cell stage, where they 

 could be immersed in a suitable nutrient solution, before 

 they were finally successful. Chemical reactions in that 

 early day did not yield energy rapidly enough to overcome 

 diffusion. Haldane points out that even today some cells, 

 particularly bacteria, leak badly and grow best in cultures of 

 heavy population. 



Whatever the cause may have been, there is no doubt 

 that the organization of the first true cell was one of na- 

 ture's most difficult problems, and its solution one of her 

 greatest triumphs. The appearance of the first true cell can 

 be dated to some extent. Geology records definitely that 

 the earliest Pre-Cambrian rocks (about 1,800,000,000 years 

 ago) show little or no sign of photosynthesis, the plant ac- 

 tivity that produces free oxygen. After the appearance of 

 the first cells, photosynthesis probably evolved in a few mil- 

 lions of years, and the sedimentary rocks begin to show pre- 

 dominantly ferric iron (produced by free oxygen). This 

 would be about 1,500,000,000 years ago. Once the develop- 

 ment of photosynthesis was perfected, nature had the vast 

 potential of the energy of sunlight for the future of evolu- 

 tion. Organisms use light directly or eat organisms that do. 



Viruses and genes (hereditary determiners) are self- 

 reproducing systems. They were probably formed from 

 coacervates which acquired enzymes (fennenting agents) 



