Energence Of Life On Earth

Question 1

What are some problems in determining life’s origins?

Answer 1

Earliest life forms cannot be directly observed
Simple life forms are still very complex
Unclear which organic molecule was first used to store info

Question 2

What are protobionts?

Answer 2

Aggregations of abiotically produced molecules

Question 3

What are the requirements for life?

Answer 3

Abiotic formation or organic molecules
Spontaneous organization
Growth and reproduction
Metabolism

Question 4

What do clay particles do?

Answer 4

Store information
Act as a catalyst
More clay, increase in reaction rate

Question 5

Describe RNA in terms of spontaneous organization.

Answer 5

Carries out genetic information
Can catalyze reactions
Selection
Binds to clay particles

Question 6

Describe RNA in terms of growth and reproduction

Answer 6

Hypertonic protobionts absorb other protobionts

Physical disruption leads to reproduction

Question 7

Describe RNA and how it relates to metabolism

Answer 7

Protobionts produce a proton gradient

The electron transport chain correlates to having energy

Question 8

What are problems with the RNA theory?

Answer 8

Self replication of large RNA has not been proven yet

Initial formation of RNA - alternative nucleic acid (TNA) & peptide nucleic acid (PNA), polypeptides

Question 9

What are paralogs?

Answer 9

Duplicated genes

Question 10

What are orthologs?

Answer 10

Mutated genes