Following are some examples of how life and geologic processes are interwoven. Read more on each topic through the hyperlinks to these topics. Your lab instructors will provide guidance and suggest emphasize important points when needed. Origins of life . Before living organisms however, these molecules must have been present, in some form.
Many scientists agree that clay particles that served as organic molecule construction sites.
The clay particles attract and hold in close proximity the atoms and small molecules need to make larger ones like proteins. This fabulous phenomenon, typical today of plants, algae and some bacteria, released tremendous amounts of oxygen gas to the atmosphere and hydrosphere. Oxygen is also necessary for the process known as aerobic cell respiration, the process by which nearly all living things supply energy to cells. Peat, coal and oil deposits . These important sedimentary structures, accessed in recent times for their chemical energy content, were formed from the partially decomposed remains of plants and other organisms.