Origin of Life Biology

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.

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What monumental finding did Miller and Urey discover?

• their model led to the creation of nucleotides that make up DNA and RNA and could have led to the first living things

• their model led to the creation of sugars which make up carbohydrates and could have led to the first living things

• nothing - their model did not work and nothing became of it - this went to discredit Oparin and Haldane's work

• their model led to the creation of amino acids which make proteins and could have led to the first living things

First cells and organisms to have evolved must have been_______________ because of lack of _____________

• aerobic, oxygen

• anaerobic, carbon dioxide

• aerobic, Carbon dioxide

• anaerobic, oxygen

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The first living organism on the planet was what type of organism?

• Plants

• Fish

• Archaea

• Mold / Fungi

Which type of cell came first?

• Eukaryotic

• Prokaryotic

• Plant

• Both Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic cells evolved around the same time

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The idea that life arises from nonliving.

• Theory of biogenesis

• Spontaneous generation

theory of biogenesis

• Living organisms can produce other living organisms

• Life arises from nonliving

Francesco Redi's Experiment tested whether flies will randomly appear on rotting meat. What was the conclusion of this experiment?

• It supported abiogenesis since decaying meat turned into flies

• It supported biogenesis since decaying meat does not turn into flies, but maggots turn into flies

• It supported abiogenesis since non-living substances turn into living substances

• It supported biogenesis since flies come from meat

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.

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NGSS.HS-LS1-6

What is the prevailing scientific hypothesis for the origin of life on Earth?

• Spontaneous generation

• Intelligent design

• Cosmic panspermia

• Abiogenesis