Origin of Life and Miller-Urey Experiment
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Questions and Answers

What is primarily produced by chemosynthetic organisms during their metabolic processes?

  • Hydrogen
  • Nitrogen
  • Oxygen
  • Sulfur (correct)

Which of the following locations is debated to have ancient bacteria?

  • Mars (correct)
  • Black Smokers
  • Europa
  • Titan

What process do microbes in vent ecosystems use to obtain extra energy?

  • Chemosynthesis (correct)
  • Fermentation
  • Photosynthesis
  • Aerobic Respiration

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of white smokers?

<p>Superheated water (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are larger animals in vent ecosystems primarily dependent on for energy?

<p>Chemosynthetic microbes (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which compound is one of the organic molecules found in space?

<p>Glycolaldehyde (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the Miller-Urey experiment demonstrate?

<p>Chemicals can combine with energy to create amino acids (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which moon is noted for having a thick, extended atmosphere that resembles young Earth?

<p>Titan (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant event occurred during the Silurian Period?

<p>Colonization of land by millipedes and plants (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which theory explains the formation of relationships between prokaryotic bacteria and other cell types?

<p>Endosymbiotic Theory (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which period did the first mammals evolve?

<p>Triassic Period (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant change in Earth’s climate during the Cryptozoic / Precambrian era?

<p>Warming and acid rain (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What geological formation occurred during the Permian Period?

<p>Formation of Pangaea (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following organisms dominated the Jurassic Period?

<p>Dinosaurs (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What key event is associated with the Archaean Eon?

<p>First life forms being prokaryotes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which period is characterized by rich deposits of coral and winged insects?

<p>Carboniferous Period (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of solar radiation is absorbed by the land and oceans?

<p>â…” (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of natural greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

<p>They trap infrared radiation, warming the atmosphere. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which atmospheric circulation cell is responsible for warm air converging at the equator and creating a low pressure belt?

<p>Hadley Cell (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon causes moving objects to be shifted to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere?

<p>Coriolis Force (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What drives deep ocean currents?

<p>Density and temperature differences (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What combination of conditions did Oparin and Haldane propose as essential for the origin of life?

<p>Low Oxygen + Methane and Ammonia (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes ichnofossils?

<p>Signs of activity such as footsteps (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Eubacteria?

<p>Presence of nuclear membranes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

During which geological period did marine invertebrates dominate?

<p>Paleozoic Era (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant event is noted to have occurred between 650 to 543 million years ago?

<p>The Vendian Revolution (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following organisms can be classified as a living fossil?

<p>Coelacanth (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the Phanerozoic Eon is accurate?

<p>It includes the Cambrian Period. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What environmental conditions facilitated the rise of free oxygen in Earth's atmosphere?

<p>The depletion of free iron and increase in photosynthesis (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What geological event is associated with the largest volcanic eruption in the Late Paleozoic period?

<p>Siberian Traps (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did climate change impact the supercontinents during the Late Paleozoic?

<p>Resulted in a hot, dry interior (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one effect of bolide impacts on Earth’s environment?

<p>Dust in the atmosphere blocking sunlight (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which cycle is associated with cooling during the Paleozoic climate changes?

<p>Milankovitch Cycles (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What major factor influences climate change according to the Plate Tectonics theory?

<p>Position of continents (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant geological evidence supports the story of Noah’s Ark?

<p>Rising sea levels of the Black Sea (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of tektites formed from meteorite impacts?

<p>They contain abundant quartz grains (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT a potential cause of extinction during the Late Paleozoic?

<p>Rise of human civilization (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What primarily differentiates the Pleistocene extinctions from other mass extinctions like K-T and P-T?

<p>It mostly affected large mammals. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant change has been observed in global surface temperatures recently?

<p>They have shown an overall increase. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which atmospheric condition is considered 'normal' in the equatorial Pacific?

<p>Higher air pressure than the eastern Pacific. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the causes of contemporary atmospheric trends?

<p>Greenhouse warming due to increased CO2. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the ENSO (El Niño) phenomenon?

<p>Involves a warm pool of water moving eastward. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What change has been observed in glacial ice volume in recent years?

<p>Decreasing glacial ice volume. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What has been the trend in sea levels over the last century?

<p>Sea levels have increased by 10-25 cm. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the ENSO cool phase (La Niña)?

<p>Increased pressure differences. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Chemosynthesis

A process where organisms use chemical energy from vents to make food, instead of sunlight

Chemosynthetic Organisms

Microbes that use chemical energy from vents to make food, they don't need sunlight.

Primordial Soup

Early Earth's oceans, believed to have had simple organic molecules that eventually formed life.

Miller-Urey Experiment

A lab experiment that simulated early Earth's conditions to show how simple molecules can combine creating amino acids

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Fossil

Remnants or imprints of ancient organisms, older than 10,000 years.

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Titan (Saturn Moon)

A moon with a thick atmosphere having conditions similar to early Earth.

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Europa (Jupiter Moon)

A moon with water and ice, a water-rich location in the solar system.

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Vent Ecosystem

Unique ecosystems found beneath the seafloor powered by chemical energy, with both microbes and larger organisms such as shrimps and crabs.

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Primordial Soup Hypothesis

The idea that life arose from simple organic molecules in Earth's early oceans, fueled by energy from the sun, lightning, and volcanoes.

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Body Fossils

Preserved remains or impressions of an organism's body, such as bones, shells, or leaves.

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Trace Fossils

Fossils that reveal the activity or behavior of ancient organisms, like footprints, burrows, or bite marks.

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Chemical Fossils

Preserved molecules from ancient organisms, found in rocks or sediment.

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Vendian Revolution

A significant evolutionary period, 650 to 543 million years ago, marked by the rise of diverse and complex multicellular life.

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Phanerozoic Eon

The current eon lasting 540 million years, characterized by the existence of visible life forms.

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Paleozoic Era

The first era of the Phanerozoic eon, lasting from 540 to 245 million years ago, marked by the dominance of marine invertebrates and the colonization of land by plants and animals.

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Cambrian Period

The first period of the Paleozoic era, spanning 540 to 505 million years ago, known for the sudden diversification of life and the appearance of many animal groups.

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Endosymbiotic Theory

The theory that explains how eukaryotic cells, with their complex organelles, evolved from simpler prokaryotic cells through a symbiotic relationship.

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Panspermia

The theory that life on Earth originated from microbial life carried by meteorites from other planets.

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Precambrian Era

The earliest and longest era of Earth's history, lasting from 4.6 billion years ago to 540 million years ago.

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Hadean Eon

The first eon of Earth's history, from 4.56 to 3.8 billion years ago, characterized by intense meteorite bombardment and the formation of the early atmosphere and oceans.

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Archaean Eon

The second eon of Earth's history, from 3.8 to 2.5 billion years ago, characterized by the emergence of the first prokaryotic life forms.

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Silurian Period

A geological period within the Paleozoic Era (436-408 million years ago), marked by the colonization of land by millipedes and plants and a flourishing of crinoids and brachiopods.

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Devonian Period

A geological period within the Paleozoic Era (408-360 million years ago), characterized by the diversification of fish, the emergence of insects and amphibians, and the first forests.

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Carboniferous Period

A geological period within the Paleozoic Era (360-286 million years ago), characterized by extensive coal deposits, the rise of winged insects and reptiles, and vast swamps.

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Overkill

A theory suggesting that humans hunted large mammals to extinction during the Pleistocene.

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Pleistocene Extinctions

A series of extinctions that occurred during the Pleistocene epoch, primarily affecting large mammals and other megafauna.

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Climate Change

Long-term shifts in weather patterns and conditions over a large region.

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Global Warming

The gradual increase in Earth's average temperature, primarily caused by human activities and greenhouse gases.

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Greenhouse Gases

Gases in the atmosphere that trap heat and contribute to global warming.

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El Niño

A climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean with warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures, influencing weather patterns globally.

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La Niña

A climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean with cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures, influencing weather patterns globally.

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Weather

The short-term atmospheric conditions at a specific location, including temperature, precipitation, wind, and cloud cover.

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Greenhouse Effect

The process where greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun, warming the Earth's surface. This is a natural process essential for life, but human-made greenhouse gas emissions are causing this effect to intensify.

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Hadley Cell

A type of atmospheric circulation that moves warm air from the equator towards the poles, creating areas of high and low pressure. This drives weather patterns and global climate.

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Ferrel Cell

A midlatitude atmospheric circulation cell that moves air from the poles towards the equator, interacting with the Hadley Cell to create complex weather patterns.

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Coriolis Force

An apparent force that deflects moving objects to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, due to Earth's rotation.

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Gyres

Large, circular loops of moving ocean water in the subtropics, driven by wind and the Coriolis force.

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Late Paleozoic Volcanism

A period marked by massive volcanic eruptions, particularly the Siberian Traps, which released immense amounts of heat and gases causing significant climate change.

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Late Paleozoic Climate Change

A period of warming and cooling due to the formation of supercontinents, volcanic activity, and natural cycles.

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Gondwanaland

A supercontinent that existed during the Late Paleozoic era, formed by the merging of landmasses like South America, Africa, and Antarctica.

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Varangian Glaciation

A major ice age that occured at the end of the Proterozoic era, covering Earth in ice and significantly altering the planet's climate.

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Milankovitch Cycles

Natural variations in Earth's orbit and tilt that influence the amount of solar radiation received by different parts of the Earth, contributing to long-term climate change.

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Seaways

Narrow bodies of water that connect larger bodies of water, influencing ocean currents and climate patterns.

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Plate Tectonics and Climate

The movement of Earth's tectonic plates, influencing ocean currents, landmass distribution, and ultimately, global climate patterns.

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Tektites

Glassy objects formed by the intense heat and pressure of meteorite impacts, often found in layers of rock.

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Study Notes

Origin of Life

  • Hydrothermal Vents: Seafloor geysers spewing hot, mineral-rich water support diverse organisms. Form along mid-ocean ridges; discovered 30 years ago, but exist 3.5-4 billion years.
  • Vent Ecosystem: Microbes use chemosynthesis to extract energy from heat, methane, and sulfur, forming ecosystems beneath seafloor. Chemosynthesis creates sulfur as byproduct.
  • Chemosynthetic Organisms: Combine vent chemicals and oxygen to create food. They don't rely on sunlight for photosynthesis.
  • Primordial Soup: Life began as a soup in lakes or ponds 4 billion years ago.

Miller-Urey Experiment

  • Experiment: Vapor, condensing column, and power supply produce a spark. This converted water into a muddy brown liquid with amino acids.
  • Problem: Amino acids need to become protein. Early atmosphere composition differed from that used by Urey and Miller.

Life from Space

  • Panspermia: Theory that life originated outside Earth and was brought to planets by comets.
  • Comets: May have supplied raw materials for life.
  • Space: Organic molecules (e.g., water, ethyl alcohol, glycolaldehyde) exist in space.

Earth History

  • 4.6 Billion years: Formation of Earth.
  • 3.9 Billion years: Water formed.
  • 3.5-3.8 Billion years: Life appeared.

Geologic Time

  • Phanerozoic Eon: 540 million years ago to present; marked by the appearance of macroscopic life.
  • Paleozoic Era (540-245 Ma): Dominance of marine invertebrates; plants and animals colonize land.
    • Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Permian periods.
  • Mesozoic Era (245-65 Ma): Dominance of reptiles and dinosaurs; splitting of Pangaea.
    • Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous periods.
  • Cenozoic Era (65 Ma to Present): Man as agent of extinction; flowering plants and mammals flourish.

Extinctions

  • Extinction rule: Extinctions are common throughout Earth history.
  • Volcanism: Flood basalt and acid rain cause climate change, leading to extinctions. Siberian Traps are an example.
  • Climate Change: Warming and cooling periods impact life dramatically.
  • Asteroid Impact: A large asteroid impact and the resulting climate change triggers mass extinctions.
  • Other causes: Overkill by humans (hunting to extinction), degradation of environments and pollutants.

Climate Change

  • Greenhouse Effect: Increase in atmospheric CO2 due to industrialization and burning of fossil fuels. Land use changes also play a role.
  • Greenhouse Gases: Trap infrared radiation, raising global temperatures.
  • Climate variability: Major climate changes (e.g., El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)).
  • Earth Heat Redistribution: Hadley cells, Ferrel cells, Global surface currents.
  • Ocean currents: Deep ocean currents are driven by differences in water density.

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Description

Explore the fascinating theories behind the origin of life, including hydrothermal vents and the Miller-Urey experiment. Delve into the concepts of chemosynthesis, primordial soup, and the panspermia theory. This quiz will test your understanding of how life may have begun on Earth and beyond.

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