why did it take so long for the first life to appear on earth?

Question

its a question on my bio study guide. i need helpp!!

Answer 1

Because god intended it that way, he had a plan, just read the first book of the bible gen. this tells you excatly how it all happened, it is so interesting!

Answer 2

The question should be --- Is it possible for life to begin by itself? for which, the answer would be NO, according to sound scientific laws. There is NO evidence or real testable, observable science that allows for life to have started either here or anywhere else in the universe by itself. You're being tested on a false assumption which is not scientific at all....you're being asked to answer a loaded question as if the question is true.
People have made up all sorts of stories and guesses based on evolutionary ideas and beliefs but it's not real science. There has never been a real scientific experiment that has shown that life can begin from non-living material.
If you don't want to get in trouble, just answer the question by stating first "The textbook says..." otherwise, you'll be ridiculed for your unbelief.

Answer 3

It's very difficult if not impossible to be too precise about when the 1st life appeared because of the many, many periods of turbulence the planet has gone through from outside influences -- collisions with asteroids, perhaps even with the moon, cosmic explosions and their catastrophic winds.
And changes in the topography of Earth have occurred countless times in its 4 billion year history from its OWN geologic turmoil, including volcanic activity, earthquakes, floods, continental drift, weather, etc. that may obscure much other evidence that might be lurking thousands of feet below where we're looking or simply blown off by cosmic collisions.

You must include primitive forms of life like amoeba, too, Some forms of these microscopic 'beings' have been found to withstand existence even in boiling water, so it's anyone's guess when they could first withstand the rigors of early Earth.

Aside from the Biblical interpretation of man's appearance, its an open question as to when the first intelligent beings appeared ... were destroyed .... appeared ..... were destroyed ..... reappeared. Gamma rays from an exploding supernova could arrive on our planet at the speed of light at any time and eradicate our existence. But, chances are, in a million or so years, a similar type of human, humanoid, could emerge from some mud-hole or the ocean and we (they) start all over again.

I wouldn't put too much faith in alien assistance, given the vast distances between solar systems.

As another answerer suggested, What, too long! Intelligent life-form developing, not to mention thriving out of the maelstrom of our solar system is astounding!

Paul H., I think this was intended as a scientific question involving nucleic acid and so forth, and not some fable about women being ribs, or the apparent incest that had to have followed Adam and Eve and some talking snake in a tree.
And, answer me this: Why is every horrible natural occurence called, 'an act of God' Where'd that come from? Oh! That's right -- your pastor or preacher pulled it out of the Bible to keep your butt in line. I'm not an atheist but like millions of thers like me, I'm getting tired of all the contradictions and arm-flailing there is in defense of Santa Clauselike fables

Answer 4

The earth itself did not form until 4.5 to 4.7 billion years ago, and it was not until around 4 billion years ago that the earth was cool enough to form solid continents and liquid water. The earliest fossil record of cyanobacteria and stromatolites (some of the first life forms) did not begin to form until 3.5 to 3.6 billion years ago.

So to answer your question, the appearance of life is strongly contingent upon the existence of water, and liquid water did not condense until a good while after the earth formed.

Answer 5

i cant give a number answer but around three billion years i believe. first came along prokaryotic cells, then eukaryotic cells. life is built off of those two types of cells

Answer 6

"So long"? It happened pretty quickly on geologic time scale once the planet was cool enough for water to remain liquid.

Answer 7

thats a question for God! It did not take that long though