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Questions and Answers
Which of the following is NOT considered an essential element for life?
Which of the following is NOT considered an essential element for life?
According to the provided text, when did the earliest form of life, bacteria, appear on Earth?
According to the provided text, when did the earliest form of life, bacteria, appear on Earth?
What is the primary difference between photosynthesis and chemosynthesis?
What is the primary difference between photosynthesis and chemosynthesis?
Based on the text, which of the following is NOT a characteristic shared by all living organisms?
Based on the text, which of the following is NOT a characteristic shared by all living organisms?
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What is the most widely accepted theory for the origin of life on Earth?
What is the most widely accepted theory for the origin of life on Earth?
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What percentage of the human body is composed of the four major elements: carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen?
What percentage of the human body is composed of the four major elements: carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen?
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Which element makes up the largest percentage of the human body?
Which element makes up the largest percentage of the human body?
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What is the atomic number of potassium?
What is the atomic number of potassium?
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Which of the following elements is considered a trace element, meaning it is found in less than 0.01% of the human body?
Which of the following elements is considered a trace element, meaning it is found in less than 0.01% of the human body?
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What substance is considered the molecule that supports all of life?
What substance is considered the molecule that supports all of life?
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What is the percentage of water content typically found in most cells?
What is the percentage of water content typically found in most cells?
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Which of these statements is true regarding the evolutionary history of life on Earth?
Which of these statements is true regarding the evolutionary history of life on Earth?
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Which of these is not a physical state of water found on Earth?
Which of these is not a physical state of water found on Earth?
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Which of the following correctly describes the formation of heavier elements?
Which of the following correctly describes the formation of heavier elements?
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What was the main difference between the primitive Earth's atmosphere and the assumed atmosphere in Miller and Urey's experiment?
What was the main difference between the primitive Earth's atmosphere and the assumed atmosphere in Miller and Urey's experiment?
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Regarding the origin of life, what is the relationship between organic molecules and protocells?
Regarding the origin of life, what is the relationship between organic molecules and protocells?
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What are stromatolites?
What are stromatolites?
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What evidence supports the spontaneous formation of organic molecules?
What evidence supports the spontaneous formation of organic molecules?
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What was the main difference between the early autotrophic organisms and the later cyanobacteria?
What was the main difference between the early autotrophic organisms and the later cyanobacteria?
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Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of prokaryotes?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of prokaryotes?
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What is the significance of the 'Last Universal Common Ancestor' (LUCA) in the history of life?
What is the significance of the 'Last Universal Common Ancestor' (LUCA) in the history of life?
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What is the name given to the last universal common ancestor of all living organisms?
What is the name given to the last universal common ancestor of all living organisms?
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Where did LUCA likely reside?
Where did LUCA likely reside?
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What is the main energy source utilized by chemosynthetic organisms?
What is the main energy source utilized by chemosynthetic organisms?
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Which of the following statements accurately describes the process known as endosymbiosis?
Which of the following statements accurately describes the process known as endosymbiosis?
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Which of the following features are thought to have evolved through endosymbiosis?
Which of the following features are thought to have evolved through endosymbiosis?
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What type of cell is an Archea?
What type of cell is an Archea?
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What is the estimated age of the earliest fossilized microorganisms found in ferruginous sedimentary rocks in Canada?
What is the estimated age of the earliest fossilized microorganisms found in ferruginous sedimentary rocks in Canada?
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Which of the following characteristics is NOT associated with LUCA?
Which of the following characteristics is NOT associated with LUCA?
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What primary mechanism drives the life thriving in the deep sea volcanic vent communities?
What primary mechanism drives the life thriving in the deep sea volcanic vent communities?
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How does the density of organisms in volcanic vent zones compare to the surrounding seafloor?
How does the density of organisms in volcanic vent zones compare to the surrounding seafloor?
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What was the primary reason for the initial discovery of hydrothermal vents and their unique ecosystems?
What was the primary reason for the initial discovery of hydrothermal vents and their unique ecosystems?
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What aspect of mitochondria and chloroplasts supports the theory of endosymbiosis?
What aspect of mitochondria and chloroplasts supports the theory of endosymbiosis?
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What is a primary advantage of sexual reproduction in eukaryotic cells?
What is a primary advantage of sexual reproduction in eukaryotic cells?
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What type of environment would be most likely to support chemosynthetic bacteria?
What type of environment would be most likely to support chemosynthetic bacteria?
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What does the term "endosymbiosis" refer to?
What does the term "endosymbiosis" refer to?
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What is a key characteristic that distinguishes eukaryotic cells from prokaryotic cells?
What is a key characteristic that distinguishes eukaryotic cells from prokaryotic cells?
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Which of the following statements accurately describes the environment of hydrothermal vents?
Which of the following statements accurately describes the environment of hydrothermal vents?
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How do chemosynthetic bacteria at hydrothermal vents obtain energy?
How do chemosynthetic bacteria at hydrothermal vents obtain energy?
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What is the primary role of chemosynthetic bacteria in hydrothermal vent ecosystems?
What is the primary role of chemosynthetic bacteria in hydrothermal vent ecosystems?
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How do giant tube worms obtain nutrients in hydrothermal vent ecosystems?
How do giant tube worms obtain nutrients in hydrothermal vent ecosystems?
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Which of the following is a characteristic of 'black smokers' in hydrothermal vent ecosystems?
Which of the following is a characteristic of 'black smokers' in hydrothermal vent ecosystems?
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What is the significance of the chemical reaction involving hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in hydrothermal vents?
What is the significance of the chemical reaction involving hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in hydrothermal vents?
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Which of the following statements best describes the role of temperature in hydrothermal vent ecosystems?
Which of the following statements best describes the role of temperature in hydrothermal vent ecosystems?
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Flashcards
Common Elements in Living Matter
Common Elements in Living Matter
Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen make up 96% of living matter.
Trace Elements
Trace Elements
Elements that make up less than 0.01% of the human body.
Water's Role in Life
Water's Role in Life
Water is essential for all living organisms and makes up 70-95% of cells.
Percentage of Oxygen in Human Body
Percentage of Oxygen in Human Body
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Nitrogen in the Body
Nitrogen in the Body
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Calcium's Role
Calcium's Role
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Phosphorus Importance
Phosphorus Importance
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Elements Making Up Less than 4%
Elements Making Up Less than 4%
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LUCA
LUCA
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Chemosynthesis
Chemosynthesis
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Archaea
Archaea
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First Eukaryotic Cells
First Eukaryotic Cells
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Endosymbiotic Theory
Endosymbiotic Theory
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Anaerobic
Anaerobic
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Hydrothermal vents
Hydrothermal vents
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Endosymbiosis
Endosymbiosis
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Chemosynthetic Bacteria
Chemosynthetic Bacteria
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Black Smokers
Black Smokers
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White Smokers
White Smokers
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Tube Worms
Tube Worms
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Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
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Chemosynthesis Reaction
Chemosynthesis Reaction
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Zonation in Hydrothermal Vents
Zonation in Hydrothermal Vents
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Base of the Vent Food Chain
Base of the Vent Food Chain
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Endosymbiont Theory
Endosymbiont Theory
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Mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA
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Chloroplasts
Chloroplasts
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Binary Fission
Binary Fission
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Eukaryotic Sexual Reproduction
Eukaryotic Sexual Reproduction
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Volcanic Vent Communities
Volcanic Vent Communities
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Mutualism
Mutualism
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Gravity's Role in Star Formation
Gravity's Role in Star Formation
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Origin of Life on Earth
Origin of Life on Earth
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Organic Molecules
Organic Molecules
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Protocells
Protocells
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Miller-Urey Experiment
Miller-Urey Experiment
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Ancient Microfossils
Ancient Microfossils
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Cyanobacteria's Evolution
Cyanobacteria's Evolution
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Last Universal Common Ancestor (Luca)
Last Universal Common Ancestor (Luca)
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Origin of Life
Origin of Life
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Big Bang Theory
Big Bang Theory
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Earliest Life Forms
Earliest Life Forms
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Characteristics of Life
Characteristics of Life
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Essential Elements
Essential Elements
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Study Notes
BY158: The Origin of Life in Hydrothermal Vents
- The presentation is about the origin of life in hydrothermal vents.
- A diagram depicts a hydrothermal vent system, including water vapor, electrodes, a condenser, and cooled water containing organic compounds.
- A sample for chemical analysis is collected.
Key Content Areas
- Building Blocks of Life: Essential elements (118 total, 25 essential to life, but 4 key ones -- C, H, N, & O -- make up 96%): a substance that cannot be broken down into other substances via chemical reactions.
- Big Bang Theory: The universe began with an explosion. Galaxies are moving apart.
- Origin of Life and Chemical Evolution: Life arose spontaneously on Earth. Earliest form was bacteria approximately 3.5 billion years ago.
- Volcanic Vents: Active areas for chemical reactions; possibly a site for the first life.
- Photosynthesis and Chemosynthesis: Photosynthesis uses solar energy to make sugar and oxygen. Chemosynthesis uses inorganic reactions to make food.
Defining Life
- Biologists define living things as all diverse organisms from a single-celled ancestor that evolved approximately 4 billion years ago.
- Living organisms share characteristics, including consisting of one or more cells, containing genetic information, reproducing, evolving, converting molecules, extracting energy, and regulating internal environments.
Essential Elements of Life
- A minimum of 25 natural elements are essential to life.
- Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen make up 96% of the mass of most living organisms.
Life on Earth: Molecular Aspects
- Water plays a critical role in life.
- Cells are primarily composed of water.
- Water's important properties (e.g., hydrogen bonding) are essential to life.
- There is a universal set of small molecules (sugars, amino acids, nucleotides, fatty acids, phospholipids, vitamins, and coenzymes), that unite to build the major macromolecules (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids), in living things.
Fundamental Properties of Life
- Cellular organization, sensitivity, growth, development, reproduction, regulation, homeostasis, and heredity are fundamental properties of life.
Big Bang Theory
- The universe is expanding, with galaxies moving apart.
- The Big Bang theory proposes a cataclysmic explosion 8-12 billion years ago, initiating the formation of galaxies.
- Understanding distances and speeds of galaxies allows us to estimate the age of the universe, which is approximately 20 billion years.
History of the Universe
- Quarks clump together to form protons and neutrons.
- Protons capture electrons to form Hydrogen atoms.
- The explosion of the Big Bang formed Hydrogen and Helium.
- Gravity assembled Hydrogen and Helium into stars and galaxies.
- Heavier elements were created inside stars.
Origin of Life: Scientific Hypothesis
- Earth originated as a lifeless planet approximately 5 billion years ago.
- Life on Earth subsequently arose spontaneously.
Life to Form Spontaneously
- Primitive Earth's chemicals needed to combine to form organic molecules, which in turn form primitive cells (protocells).
- Protocells evolved into true cells.
Evidence of Organic Molecular Formation
- Miller and Urey's experiment (1953) demonstrated how organic molecules (e.g., amino acids) could form spontaneously from gases and electric discharges.
- Recent studies suggest that primitive Earth's atmosphere did not contain ammonia, but rather oxygen.
Chemical Evolution
- Chemical evolution led to the formation of protocells.
Clock Analogy in History of Life
- The history of life follows a timeline, marking periods like the Precambrian (origin of Earth and prokaryotes), Paleozoic (emergence of land plants and diversification of animals), Mesozoic (continued diversification of animals), and Cenozoic (evolution of humans).
Earliest Cells
- Microfossils, possibly 3.7 billion years old, resemble prokaryotes (lacking a nucleus).
- Stromatolites are colonies of cyanobacteria.
Photosynthesis and Chemosynthesis
- Photosynthesis uses solar energy to produce carbohydrates.
- Chemosynthesis uses energy released by inorganic chemical reactions to produce food.
First Eukaryotic Cells
- Eukaryotes arose approximately 1.5 billion years ago.
- Internal membrane-bound structures (like mitochondria and chloroplasts) evolved through endosymbiosis.
Endosymbiotic Theory
- Mitochondria and chloroplasts possess their own circular DNA and ribosomes, similar to prokaryotes.
- They reproduce via binary fission, independent from the host eukaryotic cell.
Sexual Reproduction in Eukaryotic Cells
- Eukaryotic cells reproduce sexually, fostering genetic recombination, which is the raw material for evolution.
- Multicellularity arose from eukaryotes, fostering specialization.
Important Terms
- Organic/inorganic, prokaryote/eukaryote, photosynthesis/chemosynthesis, vertebrate/invertebrate, unicellular/multicellular, endosymbiosis
Hydrothermal Vents
- Volcanic vents provide unique environments where chemosynthesis, rather than photosynthesis, drives the primary production of life.
- A higher density of organisms exists in vent zones versus other areas of the ocean floor.
- Hot springs and unique organisms (like tube worms) were discovered near hydrothermal vents.
Large Heterotrophic Organisms
- Chemosynthetic bacteria form the base of the food chain in vent communities, supplying energy to larger heterotrophs through the use of sulfide molecules.
- Tube worms host bacteria symbiotically for their energy needs.
Other Supporting Information
- The origin and evolution of life, including prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, are topics under investigation.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the essential elements for life and the origins of living organisms. This quiz covers fundamental concepts such as the major elements in the human body, the difference between photosynthesis and chemosynthesis, and evolutionary history.