Chap 25 - Book Flashcards
Conceptual questions and definitions from Chap. 25. Follows outline of PP. (45 cards)
the broad pattern of evolution above the species level
macroevolution
The emergence of terrestrial vertebrates through a series of speciation events is an example of what?
macroevolution
The origin of key adaptations such as flight and the impact of mass extinctions on biodiversity are two examples of what?
macroevolution
Scientists hypothesize that processes could have produced simple cells through 4 main stages:
a. ____ synthesis of small ___ molecules (proteins, nucleic acids, etc.)
b. joining of these molecules into _____, such as proteins and nucleic acids
c. packaging of these molecules into ______, droplets with membranes that maintained an internal chemistry different from that of their surroundings
d. origin of self-replicating molecules that eventually made inheritance possible
a. abiotic, organic
b. macromolecules
c. protocells
Earth’s first atmosphere had ___ oxygen and was probably thick with ____ ____, along with nitrogen and its oxides, carbon dioxide, ____, _____ and hydrogen
little, water vapor, ammonia, methane
What did Oparin and Haldane independently hypothesize?
the early earth’s atmosphere was reducing (electron-adding)
What did Haldane suggest about the early oceans?
they were a solution of organic molecules (primitive “soup”)
What did Miller’s classic experiment prove?
organic matter can be produced by inorganic matter
T/F some evidence suggests that the early atmosphere was made up of nitrogen and carbon dioxide and was neither reducing nor oxidizing
True
Earth’s Origin: deep-sea hypothesis
a. organic compounds were first produced in deep-sea _____ _________. This could especially have happened in ____ _______ that release warm water.
a. hydrothermal vents, alkaline vents
T/F the volcanic-atmosphere but NOT the alkaline-vent hypothesis shows that the abiotic synthesis of organic molecules is possible under their conditions
False. the abiotic synthesis of organic molecules is possible under volcanic-atmosphere and alkaline-vent conditions
Is the presence of amino acids and nitrogenous bases sufficient for the emergence of life?
No
T/F laboratories have proven that the abiotic synthesis of RNA monomers can occur
True
By dripping solutions of ___ _____ or __ ____ onto hot sand, clay, or rock, researchers have produced polymers of these molecules
amino acids, RNA nucleotides
T/F it is possible that polymers of RNA nucleotides acted as weak catalysts for chemical reactions on early earth
True
All organisms must be able to carry out reproduction and energy processing. For the first abiotic protocells, how may have this condition been met?
vesicles
What increases the rate of vesicle self-assembly?
montmorillonite (soft mineral clay)
What was likely the first genetic material?
RNA
enzyme-like catalysts that play a role in protein syntehsis
ribozymes
Natural selection on the molecular level has produced ____ capable of ________ in the laboratory
ribozymes, self-replication
“Life as we know it may have been preceded by an “RNA world” in which small RNA molecules were able to ____ and to store _____ information about the ____ that carried them.”
replicate, genetic, vesicles
A vesicle has self-replicating, catalytic RNA. What would its daughters be?
protocells
The richest source of fossils
sedimentary rocks
sedimentary rock layers
strata
