FL Biology EOC - L.15.8 - Origin of Life

When describing the scientific explanations of the origin of life on Earth a Biologist would include: Spontaneous Generation, Chemical Evolution, Organic Molecules, Endosymbiosis, and Eukaryotic cells

• True

• False

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Some of the conditions on Earth that contributed to the origin of life included chemical process such as the synthesis of small organic molecules, which would have require extreme heat, water, and a mixture of inorganic gases and molecules (ex. near deep ocean hydrothermal vents or shallow ocean tide pools struck by lightening).

• True

• False

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-6

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Scientists Redi, Pasteur, Oparin, Miller, Urey, Margulis, and Fox influenced the development of scientific theories of the origin of life on Earth. They developed and used experimental apparatus and published results including the Miller-Urey Amino Acid Synthesis experiment and Redi's Meat and Flies experiment.

• True

• False

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NGSS.HS-LS1-6

To develop explanation for the origin of life many scientific claims were evaluated in many different ways. Including experimental evidence like the ability to form organic compounds (amino acids) from pre-life inorganic material in the Miller-Urey Experiment and looking at alternative explanations.

• True

• False

The endosymbiotic theory holds that organelles within the cells of eukaryotes such as mitochondria and chloroplasts, had descended from independent bacteria that came to live symbiotically within other cells.

• True

• False

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What is spontaneous generation and who disproved the theory?

“Spontaneous generation” was the idea that living organisms can spring into existence from non-living matter. In the late 19th century Pasteur famously came up with an experiment that debunked the theory (Flies on Meat Experiment).

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• False

Scientists think that lightning sparked chemical reactions in Earth's early atmosphere. The early atmosphere contained gases such as ammonia, methane, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. Scientists hypothesize that this created a “soup” of organic molecules from inorganic chemicals.

• True

• False

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-6

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The Chemical Evolution Theory describes the origin of life in several steps. What are the 4 main steps in chemical evolution?

1. Synthesis of Simple Compounds (inorganic compounds)

2. Origin of Organic Compounds (pieces of biomolecules)

3. Formation of Complex Organic Molecules (larger biomolecules)

4. Formation of Nucleoproteins (cell parts)

• True

• False

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NGSS.HS-LS1-6

One of the accepted scientific theories describing the origin of life on Earth is known as chemical evolution. According to this theory, which of the following events would need to occur first for life to evolve?

• onset of photosynthesis

• origin of genetic material

• Synthesis of organic molecules

• formation of the plasma membrane

Answer explanation

During chemical evolution, organic molecules were synthesized by individual elements. All living things are made from organic molecules, so the presence of these molecules is required for life to exist.

Which types of organisms developed first due to the early environmental conditions on Earth? 

• prokaryotic and aerobic

• prokaryotic and anaerobic

• eukaryotic and aerobic

• eukaryotic and anaerobic

Answer explanation

Prokaryotic organisms are single-celled and would have evolved first. Since atmospheric oxygen was not initially present on Earth, the ability to use anaerobic respiration to produce energy would have been necessary for the first living organism

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