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8/2/2019 Astbio 115 Final Sg
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/astbio-115-final-sg 1/8
Coverage: All lectures; textbook Chapters 1-13 excluding Sec. 2.4, 12.4, 13.1, 13.4
Week1: Cosmic Origins; [Ch. 1+2]
Factors contributing to emergence of Astrobiology as a discipline
Contributions of various fields to Astrobiology
Why biology may be common in the universe
Geocentric v Heliocentric models of our Solar System
Kepler's Laws
Science v non-science (case of Martian canals)
Week2: Universe, Solar System, Planets; [Ch. 3]
Origin of the universe (evidence)
Cosmic calendar
Nebular theory and galaxy formation and composition
Solar system features contributing to Habitability
Differences between terrestrial and jovian planet formation and character
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Origin and distribution of other bodies in our solar system
How stars shine and the death of stars
Expansion of Universe
Week3: Habitability of Earth; [Ch. 4]
Formation and types of rock
Characteristics of Earth contributing to habitability (volcanism, plate tectonics, B-field)
The Age of Earth and meteorites through radiometric dating
Geologic Eons and character of Earth (Fig 4.10)
Earth's interior composition
Origin/source of the oceans and atmosphere
Role of tectonics in recycling elements, shaping continents
Earth's magnetic field
Atmosphere layers, greenhouse affect, & climate regulation via the carbonate-silicate cycle.
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Formation of Moon and its cratering record
Oldest rocks and earliest signs of Life
Week4: Nature of Life on Earth; [Ch. 5]
Conserved characteristics and building blocks of all life (elements and molecules)
Properties of Life
Evolution, fitness and natural selection
Metabolic categories
Biological molecules (nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids)
Genetic code, DNA, RNA, base pairing, protein, amino acids
Role of mutation and sex in evolution
Extremophiles
Last common ancestor
Taxonomy and Phylogenetic Trees
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Week5: Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth; [Ch. 6]
Spontaneous generation
Origin of life scenarios (location, carbon and energy source)
Oparin-Haldane hypothesis; Urey/Miller experiment
First replicating molecule
Origin of cells, scenarios
Viruses
Panspermia
Earliest life on Earth and evidence for such
Major mass extinctions; likely causes
History of oxygen on Earth
Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, endosymbiosis
Hominid diversification
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Week6: Life in the Solar System; [Ch. 7,9]
Life's environmental requirements
Potential for life on asteroids (Ceres, etc.)
Difficulties for life on Gas and Ice Giants
Moons: Ganymede, Callisto, Io, Encelladus, Triton
Europa's liquid ocean (Galileo spacecraft), evidence
Tides, tidal heating
Titan's atmosphere and hydrological cycle (Cassini/Huygens); weird life
Chemical Equilibrium/Disequilibrium; reduction, oxidation
Week7: Mars: Past, Present and the Search for Life; [Ch. 8]
History of characterization efforts
Differences between Mars and Earth
Martian eras
Loss of atmosphere; cause, effect
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Evidence for presence of water on Mars, distant and recent past
Seasonal variation
Missions through past several decades
Atacama desert
Viking experiments; perchlorate
ALH84001
Week8: Habitable Zone (HZ), Extrasolar Planet Detection; [Ch. 10]
Star types (size, brightness, longevity); Hertzsprung-Russel (HR) diagram
HZ evolution; inner edge, outer edge
Venus' atmosphere
Runaway greenhouse, moist greenhouse
Kepler Mission findings
Alternative conditions that would provide habitability, outside the traditionally defined HZ
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Extrasolar planet detection methods: Astrometry, Stellar Doppler Shift, Transiting Planets,
Gravitational Lensing
Exoplanet properties: size, eccentricity, etc.
Week 9: Biosignatures, Rare Earth, Drake Equation; [Ch. 11, 12]
Spectroscopy and atmospheric composition
Atmospheric signatures of life, temperature
Why life may be common in the Universe
Characters of Earth that make it [potentially] uniquely habitable
Gaia hypothesis
Know the variables of the Drake Equation, and the relative degree to which each is known
Convergent Evolution, Encephalization Quotient
SETI and categories of signals
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Week10: SETI and Bio-, Techno- Signatures; Terms and Concepts: [Ch. 13]
Pioneer Plaque, Voyager Record
Fermi paradox and solutions
Assumption of mediocrity
Arecibo and Allen telescope array
Directed radio signals vs leakage
Jupiter-size planet eccentricity and water on terrestrial planets
Disc-integrated data
EPOXI mission, observing Earth as extrasolar planet
Surface liquid determined by 'glint'
Anti-biosignatures