How did life emerge on Earth? How have life and Earth co-evolved through geological time? Is life elsewhere in the universe? Take a look through the 4-billion-year history of life on Earth through the lens of the modern Tree of Life! This course will evaluate the entire history of life on Earth within the context of our cutting-edge understanding of the Tree of Life. This includes the pioneering work of Professor Carl Woese on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus which revolutionized our understanding with a new "Tree of Life." Other themes include: -Reconnaissance of ancient primordial life before the first cell evolved -The entire ~4-billion-year development of single- and multi-celled life through the lens of the Tree of Life -The influence of Earth system processes (meteor impacts, volcanoes, ice sheets) on shaping and structuring the Tree of Life This synthesis emphasizes the universality of the emergence of life as a prelude for the search for extraterrestrial life.
4.1. Cycles of Radiation and Extinction
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Skills You'll Learn
Chemistry, Biology, World History, Physical Science, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Life Sciences, Taxonomy, Environmental Science, Scientific Methods
Reviews
4.2 (104 ratings)
- 5 stars61.53%
- 4 stars17.30%
- 3 stars9.61%
- 2 stars3.84%
- 1 star7.69%
FG
Feb 13, 2021
Learned a lot as an auditor; the teachers were excellent : professional and charismatic .
CG
Mar 16, 2019
Enjoyed every minute of the course and learned so much at the same time!
From the lesson
Week 4 - Paleozoic Life After the Advent of Skeletons
Taught By
Bruce W. Fouke, Ph.D.
Director of the Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center