This episode explores the evolutionary development of energy production in cells – from chemical evolution in the Hadean era to the emergence of the first prokaryotes and the formation of complex bioenergetic mechanisms such as glycolysis and electron transport. It explains how cells were able to generate energy without oxygen, what challenges such as acidification arose, and how these were overcome through evolutionary innovations like proton pumps and redox reactions.
Evolution of Bioenergetics – with a Focus on Prokaryotes
Hadean Eon (4.6–4 billion years ago): Chemical evolution → Prerequisite for complex biomolecules
Archaean Eon (from approx. 4 billion years ago): Biological evolution: Emergence of the first prokaryotes and energy production
13 Stages of Bioenergetic Evolution
Stage 0: Initial conditions
Stage 1: Glycolysis
Stage 2: Binding of H⁺ to organic molecules
Stage 3: Proton pump
Stage 4: Electron transport chain develops
Prokaryotes as “inventors”
Geology and fossils
Challenges
Chemical foundation: Redox reactions
Precambrian period:
https://anthrowiki.at/Pr%C3%A4kambrium (17.04.25, 10:31)
Black Smoker:
https://www.vulkane.net/vulkanismus/geysire/blacksmoker.html (17.04.2025, 15:32)
Dark oxygen in the deep sea (electrolysis of H2O by manganese nodules):
https://www.scinexx.de/news/geowissen/tiefsee-erzeugt-dunklen-sauerstoff/(16.05.2025, 09:43)
AI: Translation by ChatGPT and Text to Speech by ElevenLabs