[BlanketLogic]

> Without a thick atmosphere, any burgeoning life would have to deal with random bursts of energy that could cause damage to that lifes equivalent of genetic coding.

Is having a thick atmosphere a necessary condition for life?

Is it not possible for a mutation to result in a 'thick skinned' life form - one that relies on its exo-skeleton/skin to withstand the drastic changes? Or a color-changing 'plant' that evolved to do ultra-fast-photo synthesis when needed and move into a dormant mode, when not?

Such a thing would allow such plants and animals to move out of the seas and go onto dominate the land. (Assuming, of course that there is life underwater)