Exam 1 Flashcards
biomolecules
The molecules of living organisms
organic molecules
(carbon-containing compounds
Urey and Miller
the first cells had to arise from
the first cells had to arise from
nonliving chemicals, inorganic substances
Earth’s age
The Earth came into being about
4.54 billion years ago
4 stages of the Origin of life
- organic monomers
- Organic polymers
- Protocells or protobionts
- Protobionts acquire ability to self-replicate
explain Stage 1: Evolution of monomers
whatr the hypothesis for how monomers evolved?
Several hypothesis for how monomers evolved
1. monomers came from outer space
2. monomers came from reactions in the atmosphere
- molecules could be formed in the presence of outside energy sources using atmospheric gases
3. monomers came from reactions at hydrothermal vents
Miller and Urey Experiment
Stanley Miller and Harold Urey
conducted an experiment to test the
Oparin-Haldane hypothesis:
Showed that gases (methane,
ammonia, hydrogen, and water) can
react with one another to produce
small organic molecules (amino
acids, organic acids)
Strong energy sources
Rainfall would have washed organic
compounds from the atmosphere
into the ocean.
They would have accumulated in the
ocean, making it an organic soup.
Chemical Evolution at hydrothermal vents
Hydrothermal vents are chemical hot springs found
in seafloors.
- They might have seeded life on Earth about 4 billion
years ago. - Conditions including a 158°F (70°C) temperature
are just right for chemical reactions responsible for
the formation of amino acids and primitive
membranes.
Explain stage 2: evolution of polymers
describe how polymers form and the 3 hypotheses
In cells, monomers join to form
polymers in the presence of enzymes.
A process known as polymerization.
Iron–Sulfur World Hypothesis:
It suggests organic molecules reacted with amino
acids to form peptides in the presence of iron-nickel
sulfides.
Protein-First Hypothesis
It assumes that protein enzymes arose first.
DNA genes came afterwards.
RNA-First Hypothesis
It suggests only RNA was needed to progress
toward the formation of the first cell or cells.
Some viruses have only RNA genes.
DNA genes would have come afterward.
Stage 3 evolution of Protocells
define proteinoids
define protocells
describe strucutre of protocells
Before the first true cell arose, there
would have been a protocell or
protobiont, the hypothesized
precursor to the first true cells
A protocell would have an outer
membrane and carry on energy
metabolism
Proteinoids are small polypeptides
with catalytic properties
Define and describe proteinoid and liposomes
When proteinoids are placed in
water, they form microspheres,
structures made of proteins with
many properties of a cell
If lipids are made available to
microspheres, lipids become
associated with microspheres,
producing a lipid-protein membrane
Lipids placed into water form cell-
sized double-layered bubbles called
liposomes
They may have provided the first
membranous boundary
liposomes
Lipids placed into water form cell-
sized double-layered bubbles called
liposomes
stage 4 : evolution of a self-replication system
Describethe 2 main hypotheses
2 main hypothesis
RNA - first
The first cell would have had an RNA gene that
directed protein synthesis.
Reverse transcription could have led to DNA.
RNA was responsible for both DNA and protein
formation
RNA - DNA -RNA - Protein
Protein First
The protocell would have developed a plasma
membrane and enzymes.
Then, DNA and RNA synthesis would have been
possible.
After DNA evolved, protein synthesis would have been
carried out according to the central dogma.
After DNA formed, the genetic code had to
evolve
cell
basic unit of biology
what 3 sciences converged to make cell bio
cytology
genetics
biochem
who named cells “cells”
Robert Hooke - 1665
he observed compartments formed by cell walls of dead plant tissue
he called these compartments cells
what two factors restricted progress in early cell biology
Microscopes had limited resolution, or
resolving power (ability to see fine detail)
compound microscope
1830s
had two lenses
improved magnification and resolution
could see structures 1um clearly
Robert Brown
identified the nucleus inside plants cells using the compound microscope
Mathias Schleiden
concluded that all plant
tissues are composed of cells
thomas Schwann
concluded that all ANIMALS
tissues are composed of cells
postulated the cell theory
Cell theory
Postulated the cell theory in 1839
1. All organisms consist of one or more cells.
2. The cell is the basic unit of structure for all
organisms
Rudolf Virchow
what year?
added to the cell theory in 1855
3. all cells arise only from preexisting cells
cytology
focuses mainly on cellular structure and
emphasizes optical techniques