Which Came First?

[hazelm]

I am missing something here.  The article that led me to my quandary actually covers how we will search exoplanets for signs of life - how to know which planets are worth the search.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200504165647.htm

 

We get back as far as the cyanobacteria producing oxygen.  I find this at Wiki:  "The appearance of free oxygen in Earth's atmosphere led to the Great Oxygenation Event.   My confusion:  Did this "free oxygen in Earth's atmosphere result from something about the cyanobacteria itself which led to oxygenation of the atmosphere?   Or was the "free oxygen" already in the atmosphere and cyanobacteria utilized this free oxygen to convert to Earth's use?  Which came first?

 

Have I made it confusing enough?  Sorry.

[Vmedvil2]

The cyanobacteria used photosynthesis to convert CO² into O² causing the "Great Oxygenation Event".

Edited May 5, 2020 by VictorMedvil

[hazelm]

Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy that can later be released to fuel the organisms' activities. This chemical energy is stored in carbohydrate molecules, such as sugars, which are synthesized from carbon dioxide and water – hence the name photosynthesis, from the Greek phōs (φῶς), "light", and sunthesis (σύνθεσις), "putting together".^[1][2][3] In most cases, oxygen is also released as a waste product.

 

Conclusion:  It all started in the sun followed by evolution.  "I shall return."  ( the General)  Thank you.

[Thoth101]

I think it all comes down to DNA. DNA can become anything and once entities know how to use it they can create anything. So it is both manufactured and evolutional.