Tracing Evolutionary History

Question 1

when was Earth formed

Answer 1

4.6 billion years ago

Question 2

characteristics of Earth

Answer 2

• thick atmosphere
• high UV radiation
• high volcanic activity and atmospheric electricity

Question 3

define a stromatolite

Answer 3

layered sedimentary formations that are created by photosynthetic cyanobacteria

Question 4

stromatolites formed by ______ date back to ______ ______ years ago.

Answer 4

• prokaryotes

- 3.5 billion

Question 5

what is necessary for cellular life?

Answer 5

• synthesis of amino acids and nitrogen bases
• joining of polymers to make proteins/nucleic acids
• packing molecules into protocells
• origin of self-replicating molecules that made inheritance possible

Question 6

What was the Oparin-Haldane hypothesis?

Answer 6

conditions on early Earth could have generated organic molecules

Question 7

describe the abiotic synthesis of organic molecules

Answer 7

h2o -> water vapor -> atmosphere (charged by lightning) -> condensed -> presence of essential amino acids in sample

Question 8

What other hypothesis have been generated for the origin of organic molecules on Earth?

Answer 8

space and under the sea

Question 9

Formation of the first cells likely occurred through ______ ______ of _____ and ____ _____ ____.

Answer 9

• abiotic synthesis
• protocells
• self replicating RNA

Question 10

formation of first cells also could’ve happened by ______ _______ that acted on protocells containing ________ _____.

Answer 10

• natural selection

- self-replicating molecules

Question 11

the abiotic synthesis of protocells and replicating RNA contains what steps?

Answer 11

1. abiotic synthesis of polymers
2. formation of protocells
3. self-replicating RNA

Question 12

describe abiotic synthesis of polymers

Answer 12

nucleotides form nitrogenous bases

Question 13

describe formation of protocells

Answer 13

1. lipids condense in water
2. naturally form vesicles
3. absorb nucleotides and molecules

Question 14

describe development of self-replicating RNA

Answer 14

through RNA polymerase or similar ribosomes

Question 15

define macroevolution

Answer 15

evolutionary change at the species level

Question 16

macroevolution encompasses:

Answer 16

• origin of a new group through speciation events

- impact of mass extinctions (life diversity) and its recovery

Question 17

define radiometric dating

Answer 17

-used to establish a geological record of Earth’s history through the decay of radioactive isotopes

Question 18

define a half-life

Answer 18

time it takes for half of an isotope’s concentration to decay

Question 19

what is an archive of evolutionary history

Answer 19

the fossil record

Question 20

how have geologists established a geologic record?

Answer 20

ages of rocks/fossils and based on fossil record sequence

Question 21

In the geological record, how are eras and periods separated and what causes these separations?

Answer 21

how- by major transitions in life-forms

caused- by extinctions

Question 22

first fossil cells…

Answer 22

3500 mya

Question 23

photosynthesis

Answer 23

2700 mya

Question 24

first eukaryotes…

Answer 24

1800 mya

Question 25

diversity of soft-bodied animals...

Answer 25

600 mya

Question 26

first land plants and fungi

Answer 26

470 mya

Question 27

first angiosperms

Answer 27

125 mya

Question 28

end of cretaceous entinction

Answer 28

66 mya

Question 29

the history of Earth has been shaped by

Answer 29

plate tectonics

Question 30

what is the supercontinent and about how many years ago did it exist?

Answer 30

- pangaea | - 250 mya

Question 31

what affected the distribution and diversification of organisms?

Answer 31

the formation and split of pangaea

Question 32

what is an example of the microevolutionary pattern that occurred when pangaea split?

Answer 32

gondwana vs. laurasia | the 3 turtles, marsupials

Question 33

in what ways does Techtronic activity imperil life

Answer 33

- causes the formation of mountain ranges | - produces volcanoes and earthquakes

Question 34

list the 2 major extinctions and what they're known for

Answer 34

1. permian -extreme volcanic activity | 2. cretaceous -impact of an asteroid

Question 35

fossil record shows that it takes _____ _____ _____ for the diversity of life to return to previous level after an extiction.

Answer 35

5-10 million years

Question 36

what formed the chicxulub crater?

Answer 36

the asteroid that caused the cretaceous extinction (66 mya)

Question 37

extinction can result in

Answer 37

adaptive radiation

Question 38

adaptive radiation occurs when...

Answer 38

- colonization of new areas | - appearance of evolutionary innovations