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Origins Of Life

Subject : science

Instructions:

Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
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Match each statement with the correct term.
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This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. Around when did eukaryotic organisms first appear?
Polymers became enclosed in membranes
The building blocks of life on Earth arrived via meteors.
2.5-2.0 billion years ago
4-3.5 billion years ago

2. What was the reducing atmosphere hypothesis?
Biologically important molecules may have been formed in the temperature gradient between extremely hot vent water and cold ocean water.
Atmospheric water vapor - methane - hydrogen - and ammonia catalyzed by lightning formed precursor molecules. This was tested in the Miller/Urey experiment.
No
Cell specialization (e.g. - somatic and reproductive cells) - bigger (e.g. - to avoid predation) - more efficient at utilizing resources.

3. Around when did eukaryotic organisms first appear?
Polymers enclosed in membranes acquired cellular properties.
Genetic changes and/or Environmental changes
2.5-2.0 billion years ago
Two prokaryotic cells living symbiotically and merging OR one prokaryote engulfing a smaller one in an endosymbiotic relationship (data supports this one).

4. About how long ago did life first appear?
4 billion years ago
Cell specialization (e.g. - somatic and reproductive cells) - bigger (e.g. - to avoid predation) - more efficient at utilizing resources.
Archean eon.
4-3.5 billion years ago

5. What was the 1st of the overlapping stages in the origin of life?
The building blocks of life on Earth arrived via meteors.
Droplets that form spontaneously from the association of charged polymers. Enzymes trapped inside can perform primitive metabolic functions.
Atmospheric water vapor - methane - hydrogen - and ammonia catalyzed by lightning formed precursor molecules. This was tested in the Miller/Urey experiment.
Nucleotides and amino acids were produced prior to the existence of cells

6. Where could RNA polymerization have first occured if not in water?
The building blocks of life on Earth arrived via meteors.
On clay.
Polymers enclosed in membranes acquired cellular properties.
It is not possible because hydrolysis competes with polymerization.

7. About how old is the earth?
4.55 billion years
One of the RNA molecules mutates and has enzymatic ability to attach nucleotides together. A second mutation produces enzymatic ability to synthesize nucleotides.
No
It is not possible because hydrolysis competes with polymerization.

8. About how old is the solar system?
Atmospheric water vapor - methane - hydrogen - and ammonia catalyzed by lightning formed precursor molecules. This was tested in the Miller/Urey experiment.
Information Storage. DNA would have relieved RNA of informational role and allowed RNA to do other functions. DNA is also less likely to suffer mutations.
4.6 billion years
Cells and organization - energy use and metabolism - response to environmental changes - regulation and homeostasis - growth and development - reproduction - biological evolution

9. Prokaryotic life arose during what eon?
Biologically important molecules may have been formed in the temperature gradient between extremely hot vent water and cold ocean water.
The building blocks of life on Earth arrived via meteors.
Atmospheric water vapor - methane - hydrogen - and ammonia catalyzed by lightning formed precursor molecules. This was tested in the Miller/Urey experiment.
Archean eon.

10. What are two possible explanations for the origin of multicellularity?
Genetic changes and/or Environmental changes
One of the RNA molecules mutates and has enzymatic ability to attach nucleotides together. A second mutation produces enzymatic ability to synthesize nucleotides.
Individuals form a colony OR a single cell divides and stays stuck together.
2.5-2.0 billion years ago

11. What was the 2nd of the overlapping stages in the origin of life?
4 billion years ago
Nucleotides and amino acids became polymerized to form DNA - RNA and proteins
Archean eon.
Polymers enclosed in membranes acquired cellular properties.

12. Changes in living organisms are the result of what?
Vesicles surrounded by a lipid layer. Clay can catalyze formation of liposomes that grow and divide. Liposomes can enclose RNA.
No
Boundary separated external environment from internal contents. Polymers inside the protobiont contained information. Polymers inside the protobiont had enzymatic function. Protobionts capable of self-replication.
Genetic changes and/or Environmental changes

13. Where could RNA polymerization have first occured if not in water?
Preserved remains of past life on Earth
On clay.
4 billion years ago
1.5 billion years ago

14. About how long ago did the earth's crust cool?
4-3.5 billion years ago
An aggregate of prebiotically produced molecules and macromolecules that acquired a boundary - such as a lipid bilayer - that allowed it to maintain an internal chemical environment distinct from that of its surroundings.
4 billion years ago
Genetic changes and/or Environmental changes

15. Around when did prokaryotic organisms first appear?
3.8-3.5 billion years ago
One of the RNA molecules mutates and has enzymatic ability to attach nucleotides together. A second mutation produces enzymatic ability to synthesize nucleotides.
Metabolism and other cellular functions. Proteins have a greater catalytic potential and efficiency. Proteins can perform other tasks - cytoskeleton - transport - etc.
Biologically important molecules may have been formed in the temperature gradient between extremely hot vent water and cold ocean water.

16. What have experiments shown about prebiotic synthesis of polymers in aqueous solutions?
4.6 billion years
It is not possible because hydrolysis competes with polymerization.
Preserved remains of past life on Earth
4.6 billion years

17. What are Coacervates?
3.8-3.5 billion years ago
Droplets that form spontaneously from the association of charged polymers. Enzymes trapped inside can perform primitive metabolic functions.
Information Storage. DNA would have relieved RNA of informational role and allowed RNA to do other functions. DNA is also less likely to suffer mutations.
Cells and organization - energy use and metabolism - response to environmental changes - regulation and homeostasis - growth and development - reproduction - biological evolution

18. What are Liposomes?
4.55 billion years
Vesicles surrounded by a lipid layer. Clay can catalyze formation of liposomes that grow and divide. Liposomes can enclose RNA.
13.7 billion years
Preserved remains of past life on Earth

19. What are the seven characteristics of life?
Archean eon.
Cells and organization - energy use and metabolism - response to environmental changes - regulation and homeostasis - growth and development - reproduction - biological evolution
Information Storage. DNA would have relieved RNA of informational role and allowed RNA to do other functions. DNA is also less likely to suffer mutations.
Nucleotides and amino acids became polymerized to form DNA - RNA and proteins

20. What is the hypothetical RNA chemical selection scenario?
Cell specialization (e.g. - somatic and reproductive cells) - bigger (e.g. - to avoid predation) - more efficient at utilizing resources.
3.8-3.5 billion years ago
A chemical within a mixture of different chemicals has special properties or advantages that cause it to increase in number compared to other chemicals in the mixture.
One of the RNA molecules mutates and has enzymatic ability to attach nucleotides together. A second mutation produces enzymatic ability to synthesize nucleotides.

21. What was the 2nd of the overlapping stages in the origin of life?
Boundary separated external environment from internal contents. Polymers inside the protobiont contained information. Polymers inside the protobiont had enzymatic function. Protobionts capable of self-replication.
RNA. It has the ability to store information - capacity for self-replication - and has enzymatic funciton in the form of ribozymes.
Genetic changes and/or Environmental changes
Nucleotides and amino acids became polymerized to form DNA - RNA and proteins

22. According to the seven characteristics of life - are viruses alive?
No
The building blocks of life on Earth arrived via meteors.
Cell specialization (e.g. - somatic and reproductive cells) - bigger (e.g. - to avoid predation) - more efficient at utilizing resources.
Polymers became enclosed in membranes

23. Name 4 characteristics of protobionts.
Polymers became enclosed in membranes
Nucleotides and amino acids were produced prior to the existence of cells
Boundary separated external environment from internal contents. Polymers inside the protobiont contained information. Polymers inside the protobiont had enzymatic function. Protobionts capable of self-replication.
Nucleotides and amino acids became polymerized to form DNA - RNA and proteins

24. About how old is the earth?
4.55 billion years
RNA. It has the ability to store information - capacity for self-replication - and has enzymatic funciton in the form of ribozymes.
13.7 billion years
3.8-3.5 billion years ago

25. What is a Protobiont?
Metabolism and other cellular functions. Proteins have a greater catalytic potential and efficiency. Proteins can perform other tasks - cytoskeleton - transport - etc.
Individuals form a colony OR a single cell divides and stays stuck together.
An aggregate of prebiotically produced molecules and macromolecules that acquired a boundary - such as a lipid bilayer - that allowed it to maintain an internal chemical environment distinct from that of its surroundings.
Polymers became enclosed in membranes

26. About how old is the universe?
13.7 billion years
Genetic changes and/or Environmental changes
It is not possible because hydrolysis competes with polymerization.
Polymers enclosed in membranes acquired cellular properties.

27. Prokaryotic life arose during what eon?
3.8-3.5 billion years ago
On clay.
Archean eon.
One of the RNA molecules mutates and has enzymatic ability to attach nucleotides together. A second mutation produces enzymatic ability to synthesize nucleotides.

28. About how long ago did the earth's crust cool?
4 billion years ago
Biologically important molecules may have been formed in the temperature gradient between extremely hot vent water and cold ocean water.
4.6 billion years
Preserved remains of past life on Earth

29. What are Coacervates?
It is not possible because hydrolysis competes with polymerization.
Genetic changes and/or Environmental changes
Droplets that form spontaneously from the association of charged polymers. Enzymes trapped inside can perform primitive metabolic functions.
The building blocks of life on Earth arrived via meteors.

30. What are fossils?
Atmospheric water vapor - methane - hydrogen - and ammonia catalyzed by lightning formed precursor molecules. This was tested in the Miller/Urey experiment.
1.5 billion years ago
Genetic changes and/or Environmental changes
Preserved remains of past life on Earth

31. According to the seven characteristics of life - are viruses alive?
Information Storage. DNA would have relieved RNA of informational role and allowed RNA to do other functions. DNA is also less likely to suffer mutations.
No
13.7 billion years
1.5 billion years ago

32. About how old is the solar system?
Cell specialization (e.g. - somatic and reproductive cells) - bigger (e.g. - to avoid predation) - more efficient at utilizing resources.
4.6 billion years
Nucleotides and amino acids became polymerized to form DNA - RNA and proteins
4.55 billion years

33. Name 4 characteristics of protobionts.
2.5-2.0 billion years ago
Boundary separated external environment from internal contents. Polymers inside the protobiont contained information. Polymers inside the protobiont had enzymatic function. Protobionts capable of self-replication.
Droplets that form spontaneously from the association of charged polymers. Enzymes trapped inside can perform primitive metabolic functions.
Cell specialization (e.g. - somatic and reproductive cells) - bigger (e.g. - to avoid predation) - more efficient at utilizing resources.

34. Changes in living organisms are the result of what?
Genetic changes and/or Environmental changes
One of the RNA molecules mutates and has enzymatic ability to attach nucleotides together. A second mutation produces enzymatic ability to synthesize nucleotides.
Individuals form a colony OR a single cell divides and stays stuck together.
Vesicles surrounded by a lipid layer. Clay can catalyze formation of liposomes that grow and divide. Liposomes can enclose RNA.

35. What are three advantages multicellularity provides for eukaryotes?
Cell specialization (e.g. - somatic and reproductive cells) - bigger (e.g. - to avoid predation) - more efficient at utilizing resources.
Atmospheric water vapor - methane - hydrogen - and ammonia catalyzed by lightning formed precursor molecules. This was tested in the Miller/Urey experiment.
4.55 billion years
4 billion years ago

36. Around when did multicellular eukaryotic organisms first appear?
The building blocks of life on Earth arrived via meteors.
3.8-3.5 billion years ago
It is not possible because hydrolysis competes with polymerization.
1.5 billion years ago

37. What is the advantage of DNA over RNA?
Biologically important molecules may have been formed in the temperature gradient between extremely hot vent water and cold ocean water.
No
It is not possible because hydrolysis competes with polymerization.
Information Storage. DNA would have relieved RNA of informational role and allowed RNA to do other functions. DNA is also less likely to suffer mutations.

38. What have experiments shown about prebiotic synthesis of polymers in aqueous solutions?
Two prokaryotic cells living symbiotically and merging OR one prokaryote engulfing a smaller one in an endosymbiotic relationship (data supports this one).
It is not possible because hydrolysis competes with polymerization.
3.8-3.5 billion years ago
Genetic changes and/or Environmental changes

39. What are the seven characteristics of life?
2.5-2.0 billion years ago
Cells and organization - energy use and metabolism - response to environmental changes - regulation and homeostasis - growth and development - reproduction - biological evolution
Nucleotides and amino acids were produced prior to the existence of cells
4-3.5 billion years ago

40. What was the 3rd of the overlapping stages in the origin of life?
Cell specialization (e.g. - somatic and reproductive cells) - bigger (e.g. - to avoid predation) - more efficient at utilizing resources.
Archean eon.
Polymers became enclosed in membranes
It is not possible because hydrolysis competes with polymerization.

41. Around when did multicellular eukaryotic organisms first appear?
1.5 billion years ago
It is not possible because hydrolysis competes with polymerization.
On clay.
Genetic changes and/or Environmental changes

42. What are fossils?
Preserved remains of past life on Earth
Nucleotides and amino acids were produced prior to the existence of cells
Boundary separated external environment from internal contents. Polymers inside the protobiont contained information. Polymers inside the protobiont had enzymatic function. Protobionts capable of self-replication.
Vesicles surrounded by a lipid layer. Clay can catalyze formation of liposomes that grow and divide. Liposomes can enclose RNA.

43. About how long ago did life first appear?
The building blocks of life on Earth arrived via meteors.
4-3.5 billion years ago
No
2.5-2.0 billion years ago

44. What was the deep-sea vent hypothesis?
Genetic changes and/or Environmental changes
Droplets that form spontaneously from the association of charged polymers. Enzymes trapped inside can perform primitive metabolic functions.
Genetic changes and/or Environmental changes
Biologically important molecules may have been formed in the temperature gradient between extremely hot vent water and cold ocean water.

45. What are Liposomes?
Vesicles surrounded by a lipid layer. Clay can catalyze formation of liposomes that grow and divide. Liposomes can enclose RNA.
Biologically important molecules may have been formed in the temperature gradient between extremely hot vent water and cold ocean water.
4-3.5 billion years ago
It is not possible because hydrolysis competes with polymerization.

46. What was the 3rd of the overlapping stages in the origin of life?
4 billion years ago
Atmospheric water vapor - methane - hydrogen - and ammonia catalyzed by lightning formed precursor molecules. This was tested in the Miller/Urey experiment.
Nucleotides and amino acids were produced prior to the existence of cells
Polymers became enclosed in membranes

47. What is the advantage of proteins over RNA?
Boundary separated external environment from internal contents. Polymers inside the protobiont contained information. Polymers inside the protobiont had enzymatic function. Protobionts capable of self-replication.
Metabolism and other cellular functions. Proteins have a greater catalytic potential and efficiency. Proteins can perform other tasks - cytoskeleton - transport - etc.
1.5 billion years ago
Nucleotides and amino acids became polymerized to form DNA - RNA and proteins

48. What is the hypothetical RNA chemical selection scenario?
Cell specialization (e.g. - somatic and reproductive cells) - bigger (e.g. - to avoid predation) - more efficient at utilizing resources.
Droplets that form spontaneously from the association of charged polymers. Enzymes trapped inside can perform primitive metabolic functions.
One of the RNA molecules mutates and has enzymatic ability to attach nucleotides together. A second mutation produces enzymatic ability to synthesize nucleotides.
1.5 billion years ago

49. What is a Protobiont?
An aggregate of prebiotically produced molecules and macromolecules that acquired a boundary - such as a lipid bilayer - that allowed it to maintain an internal chemical environment distinct from that of its surroundings.
Information Storage. DNA would have relieved RNA of informational role and allowed RNA to do other functions. DNA is also less likely to suffer mutations.
Two prokaryotic cells living symbiotically and merging OR one prokaryote engulfing a smaller one in an endosymbiotic relationship (data supports this one).
RNA. It has the ability to store information - capacity for self-replication - and has enzymatic funciton in the form of ribozymes.

50. About how old is the universe?
2.5-2.0 billion years ago
13.7 billion years
Droplets that form spontaneously from the association of charged polymers. Enzymes trapped inside can perform primitive metabolic functions.
1.5 billion years ago