Early Microbial Life with Michael Lynch and Vaughn Cooper

Early Microbial Life with Michael Lynch and Vaughn Cooper

From Meet the Microbiologist by Ashley Hagen, M.S.

August 22, 2025 · 40 min · Episode 167

About this episode

Michael Lynch and Vaughn Cooper discuss the origins and trajectory of early microbial life and the collaborative report exploring the journey of life on Earth.

Michael Lynch, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Mechanisms of Evolution at Arizona State University and Vaughn Cooper, Ph.D., professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, examine the origins and trajectory of early microbial life (EML) and discuss the collaborative report between the American Academy of Microbiology and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, which explores the journey of life on Earth, from non-living chemical compounds to early unicellular life, to the vast diversity of organisms we see today. This episode is brought to you by the American Academy of Microbiology, a think tank at American Society for Microbiology and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, which has been dedicated to advancing scientific discovery for the past 25 years. Links for This Episode: Project Report Early Microbial Life: Our Past, Present and Future . Article: The Great Oxidation Event: How Cyanobacteria Changed Life . MTM Podcast: From Hydrothermal Vents to Cold Seeps: How Bacteria Sustain Ocean Life With Nicole Dubilier . Take the MTM listener survey!

People in this episode

Guests: Michael Lynch, Vaughn Cooper

Topics covered

  • early microbial life
  • origins of life
  • evolution
  • microbiology

Keywords

  • American Academy of Microbiology
  • Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
  • unicellular life
  • diversity of organisms

Sponsors

American Academy of Microbiology, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Early Microbial Life: Our Past, Present and Future, The Great Oxidation Event: How Cyanobacteria Changed Life

Books & works: Project Report Early Microbial Life: Our Past, Present and Future, The Great Oxidation Event: How Cyanobacteria Changed Life, From Hydrothermal Vents to Cold Seeps: How Bacteria Sustain Ocean Life

Places: Earth

More episodes of Meet the Microbiologist

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Meet the Microbiologist podcast page.