Glencoe Biology Origin of Life

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

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

The Miller-Urey experiment of 1953 was designed to test the hypothesis that lightning supplied the energy needed to turn atmospheric gases into organic molecules such as amino acids. Which of the following describes why the Miller-Urey theory is widely accepted today?

• Amino acids spontaneously form from molecules in the atmosphere today.

• Organic molecules are present today in extremely high concentrations.

• The process of synthesizing organic molecules from a mixture of gases has been successfully modeled in the laboratory.

• No other alternative hypotheses have been introduced.

The diagram below shows a proposed theory of the origin of eukaryotic cells, called endosymbiosis.

Which of the following explains why cells that contained mitochondria-like organelles had an evolutionary advantage?

• They were able to photosynthesize

• They had more DNA

• They were able to make more use of available energy

• They were immune to bacterial invasion.

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Cells without a nucleus are said to be _____________________.

• Eukaryotic
• Prokaryotic

What gas was necessary for complex (eukaryotic) life to evolve?

• Carbon dioxide
• Oxygen
• Dihydrogen monoxide
• Methane

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Which type of cell came first?

• Eukaryotic
• Prokaryotic
• Plant
• Both Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic cells evolved around the same time

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The diagram shows fossils in different rock layers. Which of these statements about the age of these fossils is most likely correct?

• Fossil A and C are the same age
  
• Fossil B is older than fossil C
• Fossils A is older than fossil B
• Fossil D is older than fossil C

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The idea that Earth's early oceans had organic molecules that became the first life is called the...

• Primordial soup hypothesis
• Bubble hypothesis
• Miller-Urey Experiment
• Radioactive dating theory

Why is Deep Sea Vent Theory a possible explanation for life on Earth?

• It has biological communities and energy
• It is dark and no oxygen
• It has a light source and energy from the vents
• High levels of electricity are generated there