Lecture 1 The origin of Life - When, Where, How?

Which scientist(s) tested the primordial soup model by using an electrical spark to produced amino acids from the molecules believed to be present on early Earth?

• Oparin-Haldane
• Miller-Urey
• Pasteur
• Spallanzani

What type of organism was the first to inhabit Earth?

• anaerobic heterotrophic prokaryote
• aerobic heterotrophic prokaryote
• anaerobic autotrophic prokaryote
• aerobic autotrophic prokaryote

Which gas was believed to be absent from early Earth's atmosphere

• Hydrogen
• Nitrogen
• Oxygen
• Carbon

RNA World Theory states that ...

• Life came from RNA
• Life came from life
• Life came from non living things
• Life came from outer space

"This theory suggests that life arose deep in the

ocean with hydrogen rich molecules. Their rocky nooks could then have concentrated these molecules together and provided mineral catalysts for critical reactions.

Alkaline fluids from the Earth’s crust flow up towards the more acidic ocean water, creating natural proton concentration differences remarkably similar to those powering all living cells.". This statement belongs to:

• Theory of biochemical evolution

• Community clay

• Deep sea vents

• RNA world

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

Why do some scientists believe that RNA, rather than DNA, was the first genetic material?

• RNA probably mutated into DNA
• RNA has both information storage and catalytic properties.
• RNA can replicate more accurately than DNA.
• RNA contains uracil in place of thymine.

What is the significance of the Miller-Urey experiment in the context of the origin of life research?

• It provided evidence for the spontaneous generation of life.

• It demonstrated the possibility of life on other planets.

• It showed that organic compounds can be synthesized from inorganic precursors.

• It confirmed the RNA World Theory.

Which of the following is a key component of the primordial soup hypothesis?

• Presence of oxygen in the atmosphere

• Formation of complex multicellular organisms

• Synthesis of simple organic compounds from inorganic substances

• Development of photosynthetic bacteria

Which of the following processes is thought to have contributed to the formation of the first organic molecules on early Earth?

• Volcanic activity

• Solar radiation

• All of the above

• Lightning strikes