Day 7 Flashcard - Earth History

Front

What are chemotrophs?

Back

Chemotrophs are organisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic or organic substances, often using chemical reactions.

Front

What is relative dating in geology?

Back

Relative dating is a method used to determine the approximate age of a fossil by comparing it to similar rocks and fossils of known age.

Front

What does the Endosymbiotic Theory explain?

Back

The Endosymbiotic Theory explains how early cells developed organelles like mitochondria through a symbiotic relationship with other cells.

Front

What did the Miller-Urey experiments demonstrate?

Back

The Miller-Urey experiments demonstrated that amino acids, the building blocks of life, could be formed from simple chemical precursors under conditions thought to resemble those of early Earth.

Front

What is the Geologic Time Scale?

Back

The Geologic Time Scale is a record of Earth's history, divided into blocks of time distinguished by geologic and evolutionary events.

Front

What are autotrophs?

Back

Autotrophs are organisms that produce their own food from inorganic substances, typically through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

Front

What are heterotrophs?

Back

Heterotrophs are organisms that cannot produce their own food and must consume other organisms for energy.

Front

What is the significance of amino acids in biology?

Back

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, which are essential for the structure and function of living organisms.

Front

What is the difference between relative dating and absolute dating?

Back

Relative dating estimates the age of fossils based on their position in rock layers, while absolute dating determines the exact age using methods like radioactive dating.

Front

What is the role of mitochondria in cells?

Back

Mitochondria are known as the powerhouses of the cell, as they produce energy in the form of ATP through cellular respiration.