Unit 3: The Earliest Cells

Question 1

Outline Key Components of Miller Urey Experiment

Answer 1

• their experiment showed that the compounds present in the early atmosphere ( ammonia, methane, and hydrogen) could be used to make organic compounds

-Did this by heating up water and passing the steam through ammonia, methane, and hydrogen and by using electricity to stimulate lightning

-Found that these conditions created amino acids and other organic carbon compounds

Question 2

Why is RNA believed to be the first genetic material?

Answer 2

• its ability to form spontaneously from nucleotides
• from Miller Urey experiment showed that nucleotides could have formed spontaneously on prebiotic earth

Question 3

Formation of Vesicles

Answer 3

• formed from a phospholipid bilayer

-forms spontaneously because phospholipids are amphipathic

Question 4

What is the Cell Theory?

Answer 4

1) all organisms are made of cells
2) cells are the basic unit of life
3) all cells come from pre-existing cells

Question 5

What are exceptions to the cell theory?

Answer 5

Striated Muscle Cells - multiple nuclei

Hyphae -no clear cell membranes

Red Blood Cells - no organelles

Question 6

Light Vs. Electron Microscope

Answer 6

Light
- uses light as an illuminating source
- lower magnification

Electron
- uses electron beams as an illuminating source
- Higher magnification