15.1 + 15.2 + 15.3 Conditions on Earth -> Origin of Life, Experiments of Abiotic Synthesis of Organic Molecules, Origin of First Cell

Question 1

Stromatolites

Answer 1

layered rock that results from the activities of prokaryotes (such as bacteria) that bind the thin films of sediment together

Question 2

From the time of Ancient Greeks to the 1800s people believed that living organisms came from

Answer 2

nonliving matter (Flies from meat; fish from ocean mud)

Question 3

Why do scientists argue that there is no synthesis of organic compounds in the Earth today?

Answer 3

bc it is rich in oxygen (oxidizing agent) which disrupts chemical bounds

Question 4

What was the early atmosphere of Earth like?

Answer 4

The early atmosphere (before photosynthetic organisms added O2 to the atmosphere) was electron adding

Question 5

What did the electron-adding atmosphere of Earth do?

Answer 5

provided energy for the abiotic synthesis of organic organisms

Question 6

Miller Urey Experiment

Answer 6

tried to recreate the early atmosphere and create life

Question 7

What did the flask of warmed water represent in the Miller Urey Experiment?

Answer 7

ocean

Question 8

What did the higher flask represent?

Answer 8

atmosphere

Question 9

What was in the higher flask?

Answer 9

water vapor, hydrogen, methane, ammonia, and electrodes

Question 10

What did the electrodes represent?

Answer 10

lightning (as an energy source)

Question 11

What did the condenser do

Answer 11

changed the vapor to rain

Question 12

Was there oxygen in the early atmosphere

Answer 12

no

Question 13

How many steps are including in the Miller Urey Experiment?

Answer 13

4

Question 14

What are the 4 steps included in the Miller Urey Experiment?

Answer 14

1) Water is warmed and becomes water vapor
2) The water vapor moves into the atmosphere flask
3) The condenser rained water and any dissolving compounds down to the sea
4) Water samples were periodically collected

Question 15

What was found from the Miller Urey Experiment?

Answer 15

found organic molecules

Question 16

What organic molecules were found from the Miller Urey Experiment?

Answer 16

monomers such as amino acids

Question 17

Was life found from the Miller Urey Experiment?

Answer 17

no

Question 18

What was the final conclusion that Miller and Urey made from their experiment?

Answer 18

organic macromolecules can come from inorganic molecules

Question 19

How many parts are there to the origin of the first cell?

Answer 19

3

Question 20

What are the 3 parts of the origin of the first cell?

Answer 20

1) Abiotic Synthesis of Polymers
2) Formation of Protocells
3) Self Replicating RNA

Question 21

Can monomers join and form polymers without enzymes?

Answer 21

Yes, through the abiotic synthesis of polymers

Question 22

How many steps are in the experiment of abiotic synthesis of polymers?

Answer 22

3

Question 23

What are the 3 steps of the experiment of abiotic synthesis of polymers?

Answer 23

1) Put nucleotides into water
2) Put onto a hot rock, clay, or sand
3) The heat vaporizes the water and concentrates the monomers, joining some into polymers

Question 24

When may have the abitotic synthesis of polymers happened in early earth?

Answer 24

on lava rocks

Question 25

How were organic molecules isolated within an enclosed membrane

Answer 25

through the formation of protocells

Question 26

What was the experiment used to prove the formation of protocells

Answer 26

Vesicles were formed when lipids are mixed with water

Question 27

Vesicles

Answer 27

small membraine-enclosed sacs

Question 28

protocells

Answer 28

structures that are formed from the cluster of abiotic material and were able to remain stable and reproduce in their environment

Question 29

How many steps are there in the formation of protocells?

Answer 29

3

Question 30

What are the steps in the formation of protocells?

Answer 30

1) Researchers add a type of clay that they thought was present in the early Earth
2) Vesicles began to form at a faster rate
3) Organic molecules are also more concentrated on this clay, so interact more with vesicles

Question 31

What were the first genes like?

Answer 31

self replicating RNA

Question 32

What did people use to think the molecule of life was?

Answer 32

People used to think that RNA was the molecule of life bc it is more stable and has less mistakes than DNA

Question 33

How many steps are included in self-replicated RNA

Answer 33

3

Question 34

What are the 3 steps that are included in self-replicated RNA?

Answer 34

1) RNA monomers adhere to clay particles and become concentrated
2) Monomers spontaneously form the “first genes”
3) RNA complementary chains form

Question 35

Short RNA molecules can assemble from

Answer 35

RNA polymers

Question 36

Ribozymes

Answer 36

RNA molecule that acts as an enzyme, catalyzing monomers -> polymers + replication