Module 1- origins of life

Question 1

how did life result on earth

Answer 1

we may never know the exact circumstances. however there is a general consensus that RNA was a major player in early life serving both as genetic info and and carrying on essential catalytic functions to allow self propagation

Question 2

how can we find when life was started

Answer 2

to find out exactly isnt feasible, however a rough estimate is obtained using combanations of info through multiple sources

Question 3

why is fossil evidence on life staring and microbes hard to use.

Answer 3

its difficult to conclusively prove for most cases given there very small in size and simular to natural rock formation

Question 4

how can fossil evidence of life staring be helpful

Answer 4

fossil shapes and biological material traces in the same space provides complementing evidence

Question 5

how can global environmental factors help determine when life started

Answer 5

examples such as the apearence of free oxygen at the time when cyanobacteria (produce O2 form photosyn) are thought to have arisen also help to establish geological timelines