Evidence for Origin of Life

Question 1

Stratification

Answer 1

The rock on Earth’s surface is arranged in strata, or layers

Question 2

James Hutton is the father of…

Answer 2

Modern geology; established the theory of uniformitarianism

Question 3

Theory of Uniformitarianism

Answer 3

Geological processes at work today are the same as those from the past

Question 4

How old is Earth?

Answer 4

4.5 billion years old

Question 5

Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of…

Answer 5

Continental drift- the idea that continents moved around the surface of the Earth and came together to form a supercontinent

Question 6

Evidence for Continental Drift

Answer 6

• Continents all fit together like puzzle pieces
• The same rock unit or fossil could be found on both sides of an ocean or similar features on sides of a mountain (eventually confirmed with the theory of plate tectonics)

Question 7

4 stages of early life on Earth

Answer 7

1.) Small organic molecules (amino acids, proteins) were made.

2.) These small organic molecules joined together to form larger polymers.

3.) The polymers grouped together to form protobionts.

4.) Simple protobionts evolved to pass on genetic information.

Question 8

Oparin’s Hypothesis

Answer 8

Early life on Earth formed through a series of reactions that made simple compounds more complex.

Question 9

Miller-Urey Experiment

Answer 9

Stanley Miller and Harold Urey modeled the primitive atmosphere of Earth in a glass apparatus that proved the Oparin theory.

Question 10

Taxonomy Classification System

Did King Henry Come Over For Great Spaghetti?

Answer 10

Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Question 11

Cladogram

Answer 11

Displays the relationships between organisms based on their characteristics or ancestors

Question 12

Phylogenetic tree

Answer 12

Displays the relationships between organisms based on genetic relationships