The Origin of Life Flashcards
life began about – when the solar system formed and the Earth cooled
4 billion years ago
big bang theory supposes that a large, – of material in the galaxy broke apart to distribute matter and energy throughout the universe
hot mass
the – of material caused a major cooling of temperature
distribution
– created many of the major elements that, over time, collided and condensed into stars that provided light and heat
nuclear fusion
primitive atmosphere had ammonia, methane, water, CO, CO2, nitrogen gas, and hydrogen gas but lacked –
oxygen gas
water vapor formed – which collected into pools containing mineral runoff from rocks
rain
a source of energy within these bodies of water, perhaps derived from lightning or – fueled the reactions needed to create organic molecules such as sugars, amino acids, nucleotides, and fatty acids
sunlight
some proteins produced within clay had – allowing them to interact with other molecules
enzymatic properties
formation of a membrane around these primitive enzymes produced the first – that had the ability to self-replicate
protocell
an association of the protocell with – may have produced the first actual cell that resembled modern prokaryotes
RNA
development of photosynthesis produced oxygen gas, making an aerobic environment in which aerobic – evolved as the dominant energy-producing process
cellular respiration
eukaryotic cells evolved from the – cells
prokaryotic-like
– explains the presence of organelles within eukaryotic cells
endosymbiosis theory
engulfment of bacterial cells led to –
mitochondria
engulfment of photosynthesizing prokaryotes led to –
chloroplasts
