in evolution...?

Question

how did the FIRST cell survive without food for cellular respiration?
all the plants and animals the food comes from didn't exist yet.

Answer 1

Single-celled organisms do not rely on plants and animals for food. The definition of 'food' in regard to cellular respiration is from fuel molecules. They live on things like fatty and amino acids, glucose, oxygen, and/or organic molecules.

It's very similar to the way plants survive. The 'food' keeping plants alive doesn't come from other plants or animals, it comes from the sun. I sense a religious argument in this question, but I may be wrong. The religious believe God created the molecules and organisms. Many of the non-religious believe organisms and molecules originated from a chemical reaction. I am an atheist/agnostic. A humanist. I cannot be exactly sure where chemicals came from, any more than I can tell you about infinity or convince you to believe in it's existence. This case cannot disprove evolution, however. There are scientific reasons some organisms do not need to feed on plants and/or animals. I think it's great you put it in biology.

Evolution is a theory as much as God is a theory. Evolution, though, uses scientific facts we all know to be true. This does not make it an absolute but a probable. The question must automatically be raised of who or what created God as well. It's like the chicken and the egg. There is no proven answer. I believe in an energy force that began life, the universe, and everything but I could not prove I'm correct as I wasn't there.

Answer 2

> how did the FIRST cell survive without food for cellular respiration?

Go back far enough, and the first life consisted of chemoautotrophs. They were floating in a sea of food -- smaller molecules that could pass through the membrane and be usefully incorporated into the cell's substance.

Answer 3

The first population of cells were probably preceded by populations of protocells.

There are plenty of unicellular biota that don't require plants and animals for food. Why would you think it was a requirement?

Don't believe what religious nuts say about evolution. They don't know the first thing about it and are just grinding a political ax.

Answer 4

Why do you think that cells require plants and animals to provide food?

There are many one-cell organisms TODAY, that don't require plants and animals to provide food.

In fact, the most abundant organism on the planet ... the one-cell organism called cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) ... derives energy entirely from sunlight. (See sources.)

Answer 5

Not all food comes from plants and animals. Lots of bacteria exist purely on inorganic matter. Check out "thermal vents".

Answer 6

first organisms didnt run on cellular respiration or food, but light probably or chemicals

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Answer 7

Imagine all the organic material on Earth, all the plants, animals fungi, soil, coal and oil, everything, dissolved in the ocean.

That was the "primordial soup," and it was plenty nutritious.

Answer 8

Have you noticed how plants don't eat? It's because they use the sun. There are (even now!) plants and algae use the sun to absorb energy. Some algae survives solely on sun.

Answer 9

things all around infused as a single entity then as something out of katamari its formed(absorbed) itself with surroundings. it mutated like the flu to suit its ever changing needs. as a entity like a robot.

Answer 10

Single-celled creatures don't depend on other creatures for food.