Do Scientists have an explanation on how people got here?

Answer 1

The answer is a tentative "yes." There are many theories, including the "panspermia" theory as mentioned above, which basically states that there are bits of "life" bouncing around the universe, and some of those little bits happened upon the earth to eventually evolve into single-celled organisms, and so on.

However, the most common theory amonst biologists who study these sorts of things seem to believe that "life" was created when a bolt of lightning struck (remember, at this time, the planet was a real mess, constant storms, lightning strikes, continual earthquakes, etc.) what some call the "primordial soup" -- an aquacious mass of amino acids that covered the surface of the earth. The lightning energized the amino acids to create the precurser of what today we call DNA. Evolution takes it from there.

Now, this is the most common theory of scientists, but most would admit that they simply don't know -- unlike some more understood principles such as gravity, evolution, animal interactivity, etc. we're still trying to further nail down the specifics.

Also note that many scientists have attempted to recreate the environment that created the first sparks of life (making huge tubs of primordial goo and snapping them with bolts of lightning) but until now, all have failed.

Hope this helps!!

Answer 2

Evolution from simple to complex structures.

"from goo to you" is a misleading sound byte that promotes misunderstanding. The primordial soup concept has been much distorted over the years. If you want to use the "soup" analogy, you have to think of the “soup” as being the various reservoirs of water on the Earth: 1) the oceans, which had a different chemistry on the early Earth than they currently do, 2) ancient lakes, ponds and swamps, 3) hot springs, mud pots, and hot pools (like at Yellowstone park), and 4) ground water.

So, on the early Earth you've got various bodies of water with various chemistries, plus you've got sources of heat, from the sun and also a source of internal heat (volcanoes and hot springs, both on land and under water).

There are many examples of simple and primitive critters (similar to bacteria) living in all of these environments today (in the deep oceans near hydrothermal vents, on land in hot springs, and also deep in the Earth’s crust). It doesn’t take much imagination to suggest that these environments are where life got its start (possibly in all of these environments independently).

The real question is: how do you go from inorganic to organic structures? Non-living to living materials?
To answer this we first have to define what we mean by “organic” and “life.”
How about things that: 1) exchange mass and energy with their environment, 2) respond to external stimuli, 3) grow, evolve and self-replicate, and 4) consist of certain (hydrocarbon) compounds.

One hypothesis is that initially inorganic materials (like crystals) that formed spontaneously from chemical solutions grew and evolved into materials that contained organic compounds and self-replicated (just like crystals grow), and via natural selection developed structures that resembled primitive nucleic acids (the building blocks for life as we know it).

There are other hypotheses out there as well, remaining to be tested by science.

Answer 3

By genetic mapping, we can see that humans share many genes with chimps, golden retrievers, salmon, oak trees, and yeast. All life is related and the best explanation is evolution through natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, etc.

Panspermia is not an acceptable answer since it still begs the question: "Where did it come from?"

Answer 4

There are no definite answers -- only guesses. I do believe that evolution played a big part, but what started the spark of life? It makes no sense to me that a single-celled organism just spontaneously came into being. Life cannot be created from non-living things. I have a hard time with the Big Bang Theory, also. Order is not created from chaos.

Unless . . . there is a supreme being with His hand in it all. Imagine that!

Answer 5

There are bits smaller than bacteria that are alive. Science doesn't not recognise them but some scientist have been studying them since 1900.

Here's my video showing pre bacteria.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YK_MsU0EPA

Google
Enderlein, Naessans, Rife

Answer 6

My undserstanding is that they think humans evolved from the primordial soup at the very beginning. From a single cell to an ever increasingly complex creature over the course of millions of years.

I have always had a problem with this. I simply do not have enough faith to accept that this is possible. If scientists believe that "from goo to you via the zoo is true, they have a lot more faith than I do!"

Answer 7

long ago, space was actually much smaller.

everything was within walking distance - er, less than walking distance. it was a singularity!!!

during this extremely brief period, it is my belief, that small aliens (which had accidentally gone back in time to the singular point leading to the big bang) strolled onto what would become Earth and hoped for the best.

As the universe expanded, everyone was happy because it was alot roomier - and colder. the end.

Answer 8

Most of them got here by clicking on the "Yahoo Answers" icon. I did. Didn't you?

Answer 9

Panspermia is one, the other is slow evolution from plants to humans.

Answer 10

No concrete solution yet...only theories