The History of Life Objectives

Describe some of the characteristics of all life that support the hypothesis of a single common ancestor.

Describe why ssu-rRNA is an appropriate gene for use in inferring the universal phylogeny.

Draw the relationship between the three domains of life.

Describe the cause and effects of Earth’s “oxygen revolution.”

Explain the endosymbiotic hypothesis and the evidence that supports it.

Define “Cambrian explosion” and discuss the hypotheses about its trigger.

Define “mass extinction” and discuss the hypotheses about their causes.

Define “adaptive radiation” and discuss the hypotheses about their causes.