Evolution of Life Quiz

What is the significance of the Cambrian explosion in the history of life on Earth?

It marks the sudden appearance of fossils resembling modern animal phyla in the Cambrian period.

When did arthropods first colonize land?

Roughly 450 million years ago.

What is the approximate age of the earliest tetrapods found in the fossil record?

365 million years ago.

When did sponges first evolve?

By 700 million years ago. Signup and view all the answers

What are some of the oldest macroscopic fossils of animals and when do they date back to?

The oldest macroscopic fossils of animals date back to 560 million years ago and include Kimberella. Signup and view all the answers

What does plate tectonics suggest about the origin of animals?

Animals originated about 700 million years ago. Signup and view all the answers

What key properties are essential for life according to the text?

Self replication and metabolism Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used for fluid-filled compartments enclosed by a membrane-like structure?

Vesicles Signup and view all the answers

What types of rocks are the richest source of fossils?

Sedimentary rocks Signup and view all the answers

What is the fossil record biased towards?

Species that existed for a long time, were abundant and widespread, and had hard parts Signup and view all the answers

In 2016, a study demonstrated the abiotic synthesis of which two purine bases of RNA?

Adenine (A) and guanine (G) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the layers into which sedimentary rocks are deposited?

Strata Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 'snowball Earth' hypothesis in relation to the evolution of life?

The 'snowball Earth' hypothesis suggests that extreme glaciation periods confined life to specific regions, affecting the evolution and diversity of organisms. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of endosymbiosis and its role in the evolution of eukaryotic cells.

Endosymbiosis is when one cell lives within another cell, leading to a mutualistic relationship. This process is thought to have given rise to organelles like mitochondria and plastids in eukaryotic cells. Signup and view all the answers

What key evidence supports the endosymbiotic theory in the evolution of eukaryotic cells?

Comparisons of DNA sequences suggest that the common ancestor of multicellular eukaryotes dates back to 1.3 billion years ago. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the characteristics of the Ediacaran biota and their significance in the history of life on Earth.

The Ediacaran biota were soft-bodied organisms that lived from 575 to 535 million years ago. They were larger and more diverse, representing an important stage in the evolution of life before the Cambrian explosion. Signup and view all the answers

How did the evolution of eukaryotic cells contribute to the origin of multicellularity?

The evolution of eukaryotic cells allowed for a greater range of unicellular forms, paving the way for a second wave of diversification that led to the evolution of multicellularity in algae, plants, fungi, and animals. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of serial endosymbiosis and its role in the evolution of organelles within eukaryotic cells.

Serial endosymbiosis proposes that mitochondria evolved before plastids through a series of endosymbiotic events. This process led to the development of organelles with similarities to prokaryotic cells. Signup and view all the answers

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