Eukaryotes & Prokaryotes

Question 1

What is the term for the RNA molecule that specifies the amino acid sequence of a protein?

Answer 1

mRNA

Question 2

NASA has asked you to design a module that will identify signs of life on Mars. What will your module look for?

Answer 2

Organic Material

Question 3

All cells have specialized proteins embedded in their plasma membrane that transport specific molecules from one side to the other.
True or False?

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The information contained in the 580,000-nucleotide genome of the bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium is the same size as what?

Answer 4

One Chapter in a Text Book

Question 5

The initial studies that led to the classification of the living world into the three domains of bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes were based chiefly on analysis of one of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) components of the ribosome.

Why do you suppose an rRNA sequence was chosen to trace distant family relationships?

Answer 5

rRNA is highly conversed, slowly evolving sequence

Question 6

What is the term for the major category of living cells distinguished by the absence of a nucleus?

Answer 6

Prokaryote

Question 7

Archaea are believed to be the predominant form of life in soil and sea water.
True or False?

Answer 7

True

Question 8

The total biomass of the Earth is estimated to contain 550 gigatons of carbon. Which kind of organisms accounts for the greatest portion of the total?

Answer 8

Plants

Question 9

The overall reaction for the production of glucose (C6H12O6) by oxygenic (oxygen-generating) photosynthesis,

        6 CO2 + 6 H2O + light → C6H12O6 + 6 O2         (Equation 1)

was widely interpreted as meaning that light split CO2 to generate O2, and that the carbon was joined with water to generate glucose. In the 1930s, the stoichiometry for photosynthesis by purple sulfur bacteria was shown to be

      6 CO2 + 12 H2S + light → C6H12O6 + 6 H2O + 12 S       (Equation 2)

This stoichiometry suggested that the oxygen generated during oxygenic photosynthesis is derived from water, not CO2, as was confirmed two decades later. Yet how is it that the 6 H2O in Equation 1 can give rise to 6 O2? How might Equation 1 be modified to clarify exactly how the products are derived from the reactants?

Answer 9

6 CO2 + 12 H2O + light → C6H12O6 + 6 H2O + 6 O2

Question 10

The vast majority of CO2 fixation into the organic compounds needed for further biosynthesis is carried out by phototrophs.
True or False?

Answer 10

True