Origin of Life on Earth Quiz
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Questions and Answers

Which of the following steps is NOT part of the process of life originating on Earth?

  • The packaging of these molecules into protocells
  • The creation of complex multicellular organisms (correct)
  • The polymerization of small molecules into macromolecules
  • The abiotic synthesis of small organic molecules

Stanley Miller’s experiment successfully synthesized amino acids from abiotically produced molecules.

True (A)

What is the term used to describe a hypothetical set of conditions that led to the transition from the abiotic world to the biotic world?

primordial soup

Protocells are described as droplets with ______ that maintain an internal chemistry different from that of the environment.

<p>membranes</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following steps of life origin to their descriptions:

<p>Abiotic synthesis = Formation of small organic molecules Polymerization = Formation of macromolecules from smaller units Protocell formation = Droplets maintaining distinct internal chemistry Origins of inheritance = Transmission of self-replicating molecules</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which element has been identified as a catalyst for the polymerization of RNA?

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

Protocells are considered to be living organisms due to their genetic material.

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

What phenomenon was used in Miller's experiment to mimic energy conditions on early Earth?

<p>lightning</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a property of life that can emerge from the abiotic world?

<p>Respiration in eukaryotes (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Ribozymes can synthesize DNA molecules.

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

What role do RNA molecules play in the hypothesis of the 'RNA world'?

<p>RNA molecules can act as catalysts and replicate themselves.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The process through which the relative age of fossils is determined is known as __________.

<p>biostratigraphy</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following dating methods with their descriptions:

<p>Biostratigraphy = Determines relative age of fossils Radiometric dating = Determines absolute age of rocks Faunal succession = Looks at specific sequences of flora and fauna Geological record = Documents the history of life on Earth</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the Tree of Life is true?

<p>It uses fossil records to describe evolutionary relationships. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Natural selection can favor RNA molecules that self-replicate at a slower rate.

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

Who was Mary Anning, and what is one of her contributions to paleontology?

<p>Mary Anning was a 19th-century fossil collector known for her discoveries of marine fossils, such as the Plesiosaurus.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method is used for determining the absolute age of magmatic rocks?

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

Biostratigraphy is a method that provides precise and accurate dating of sedimentary rocks.

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

What are excellent biomarkers for the chronological dating of sedimentary rocks?

<p>Species with specific ecological requirements that lived for a short geological period.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Isotopes are elements with the same number of protons but a different number of ______.

<p>neutrons</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the dating methods with their correct descriptions:

<p>Biostratigraphy = Determines relative age of sedimentary rocks Radiometric dating = Determines absolute age of magmatic rocks Faunal succession = Specific sequence of fossilized flora and fauna Biomarkers = Species with narrow ecological requirements for dating</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of rocks are not suitable for radiometric dating?

<p>Sedimentary rocks (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Foraminifera are unicellular aquatic eukaryotes that are found exclusively in freshwater environments.

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

What happens to the carbon uptake of an organism at the time of its death?

<p>The organism no longer takes up any carbon from the environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of species went extinct during the Cretaceous-Paleogene period?

<p>75% (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Endosymbiosis is believed to have occurred approximately 635 million years ago.

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

What was the first major innovation in the fossil record?

<p>First cells (prokaryotes)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The predicted number of species is greater than ______ million.

<p>11.75</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following innovations with their approximate time of occurrence:

<p>First cells (prokaryotes) = 3,500 Mya Endosymbiosis (eukaryotes) = 635 Mya Sexual reproduction = 1,200 Mya Colonization of land = 1,800 Mya</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the Last Universal Common Ancestor (L.U.C.A) is correct?

<p>All living organisms use L optical isomers of amino acids. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The number of described oceanic species is higher than 200,000.

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

What does the term 'asymptote' refer to in the context of species numbers?

<p>An apparent maximum</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly describes a function of mitochondria?

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

The colonial hypothesis suggests that multicellularity arose from colonies of unicellular organisms that failed to separate.

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

What is a key feature of organelles like mitochondria and plastids?

<p>They possess circular DNA.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Cells from different species establishing a mutually beneficial association is known as __________.

<p>symbiosis</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their descriptions:

<p>Colonial hypothesis = Cells fail to separate or separate and rejoin Symbiosis hypothesis = Cells from different species form a beneficial association Cyanobacteria = Photosynthetic bacteria Heterocyst = Nitrogen-fixing cells in certain cyanobacteria</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated number of species within the Domain of Bacteria?

<p>~700,000 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Escherichia coli is considered an extremophile.

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

What type of organism is Pyrococcus furiosus known for being?

<p>extremophile</p> Signup and view all the answers

The organism LUCA had ______ genes that were likely present in its DNA genome.

<p>355</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following domains with their characteristics:

<p>Bacteria = Very diverse metabolism with photosynthetic capabilities Archaea = Includes extremophiles and methanogens Eukarya = Evolved from prokaryotes and contains a nucleus</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of environment did LUCA likely inhabit?

<p>Deep-sea vents (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Domain of Eukarya has over 11 million species estimated.

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

Which process is PCR associated with in molecular biology?

<p>DNA amplification</p> Signup and view all the answers

Many Archaea are ______, meaning they can produce methane.

<p>methanogens</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which organism is known for its rapid cell division under optimal conditions?

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

Which feature distinguishes Gnathostomes from Cyclostomes?

<p>Jaws derived from gill arches (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Cyclostomes possess jaws.

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

What is the significance of Hox gene duplication in vertebrate evolution?

<p>It allows for more complex body plans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The skeleton of Chondrichthyes is primarily made of ______.

<p>cartilage</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following characteristics with their corresponding groups:

<p>Cyclostomes = Jawless vertebrates with circular mouths Gnathostomes = Vertebrates with jaws Chondrichthyes = Cartilaginous fish with placoid scales Urochordates = Sea squirts and their larvae</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following features is characteristic of the phylum Cnidaria?

<p>Radial symmetry (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Ecdysozoans undergo a process called ecdysis to grow.

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

What type of symmetry do echinoderms exhibit?

<p>Bilateral symmetry</p> Signup and view all the answers

Protostome animals with a feeding structure known as a ______ have tentacles surrounding their mouths.

<p>lophophore</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following groups of protostomes with their characteristics:

<p>Ecdysozoa = Characterized by molting of the exoskeleton Lophotrochozoa = Possess a trochophore larva or a lophophore Arthropoda = Segmented body with exoskeleton made of chitin Platyhelminthes = Typically acoelomate and flat-bodied</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which organism is an example of a lophotrochozoan?

<p>Dugesia subtentaculata (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

All protostomes have a complete digestive tract.

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

What is the primary function of the notochord in chordates?

<p>Locomotion</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which reproductive mode in Chondrichthyes involves the embryo feeding off the egg’s yolk before hatching in the uterus?

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

All bony fish have lungs.

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

What are the primary adaptations of Dipnoi (lungfish) to resist dryness?

<p>Burrowing in mud and entering a state of torpor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The group of vertebrates referred to as _______ includes species with four limbs and digits.

<p>tetrapods</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following groups of fish with their characteristics:

<p>Chondrichthyes = Cartilaginous fish with internal fertilization Osteichthyes = Bony fish with a swim bladder Dipnoi = Lungfish with functional lungs Actinopterygii = Ray-finned fish with no internal skeleton</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about lobed-finned bony fish (Sarcopterygii) is true?

<p>They have an internal skeleton to which muscles attach. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Cyclostomes are considered homogenous to vertebrate teeth.

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

What is the evolutionary significance of Acanthostega in understanding tetrapod evolution?

<p>Acanthostega provides evidence for the transition from aquatic to terrestrial life with its four limbs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of cyclostomes?

<p>They are vertebrates without jaws. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Hox gene duplication is associated with a more complex body plan in vertebrates.

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

What structural support system is formed by the vertebral column?

<p>skeletal system</p> Signup and view all the answers

The ______ of cyclostomes like lampreys allows them to be parasitic on fishes.

<p>circular mouth</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following features with their respective groups of vertebrates:

<p>Cyclostomes = Jawless, circular mouth Gnathostomes = Possess jaws Chondrichthyes = Cartilaginous skeleton Lancelet = Non-vertebrate chordate</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a characteristic of the phylum Ctenophora?

<p>They have radial symmetry and are diploblastic. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Invertebrates represent 95% of all known animal species.

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

What is the significance of the notochord in the evolution of vertebrates?

<p>It provides structural support and acts as a precursor to the backbone.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The absence of a backbone characterizes _____ organisms.

<p>invertebrate</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following invertebrate phyla with their descriptions:

<p>Porifera = Simplest animals with no true tissues Ctenophora = Diploblastic with radial symmetry Cnidaria = Have stinging cells Annelida = Segmented worms</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which innovation is associated with the colonization of land by early tetrapods?

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

What evolutionary feature is common among vertebrates?

<p>A backbone or spinal column.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The classification of invertebrates is based on either embryological or anatomical characteristics.

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

What type of symmetry do Cnidaria exhibit?

<p>Radial symmetry (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Acoela and platyhelminthes possess a body cavity called coelom.

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

Cnidarians have a ______ skeleton that consists of a gastrovascular cavity.

<p>hydrostatic</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following animals is a member of the Ecdysozoa group?

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

All chordates possess pharyngeal slits at some point in their development.

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

What is the primary role of the dorsal nerve chord in chordates?

<p>To transmit neural signals</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of reproduction involves embryos that feed from the egg’s yolk and then hatch in the uterus?

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

All bony fish primarily reproduce through viviparity.

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

What distinguishes lobed-finned bony fish from ray-finned bony fish?

<p>Internal skeleton to which muscles attach</p> Signup and view all the answers

In Cyclostomes, the similarity of teeth to vertebrate teeth is largely due to their shared __________.

<p>ancestry</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following fish groups with their characteristics:

<p>Cyclostomes = Jawless fish with homologous teeth Chondrichthyes = Cartilaginous fish with internal fertilization Osteichthyes = Bony fish with calcium phosphate bones Dipnoi = Lungfish with functional lungs and gills</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of dorsal swim bladders in bony fish?

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

Tetrapods are characterized by having five limbs without digits.

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

What adaptation allows lungfish to resist dryness?

<p>Burrowing in mud (torpor)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following adaptations is NOT associated with the colonization of land by tetrapods?

<p>Ability to swim efficiently (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Tiktaalik fossil showcases only fish traits.

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

What is metamorphosis in amphibians?

<p>The process of changing from a larval to an adult form, involving loss of tail and formation of legs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Amniotes have four embryonic membranes: chorion, amnion, allantois, and ______.

<p>yolk sac</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following groups of vertebrates with their characteristics:

<p>Urodela = Salamanders with tails Anura = Frogs and toads Apoda = Caecilians or legless amphibians Reptiles = Cold-blooded vertebrates with scales</p> Signup and view all the answers

Birds are classified as reptiles due to what shared characteristics?

<p>Genetic similarities (C), Bipedal locomotion (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Feathers in birds originally evolved for flight.

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

What skin adaptation do reptiles possess to prevent desiccation?

<p>Dry skin with scales containing keratin</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of mammals?

<p>Presence of mammary glands (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Humans evolved from modern chimpanzees.

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

What key feature allows primates to grasp objects effectively?

<p>Opposable thumb</p> Signup and view all the answers

Humans have a karyotype of _____ (2n = 46).

<p>46</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following animal features with their corresponding groups:

<p>Mammary glands = Mammals Wings and feathers = Archaeopteryx Bipedalism = Humans Opposable thumb = Primates</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following adaptations is NOT typically associated with primates?

<p>Thick fur (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The first hominins appeared approximately 8 million years ago.

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

What is believed to be the main benefit of bipedalism in humans?

<p>Efficient locomotion and free hands</p> Signup and view all the answers

The first representative of the Homo genus is _____ (Homo habilis).

<p>Homo habilis</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the human genome is true?

<p>99% is identical to that of chimpanzees (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Abiotic synthesis of organic molecules

Formation of small organic molecules (monomers) like amino acids and nitrogenous bases from non-living matter.

Polymerization of molecules

Small organic molecules (monomers) joining together to form larger macromolecules (polymers) like proteins and nucleic acids.

Protocells

Droplets with membranes that enclose molecules, resembling early precursors of cells but lacking genetic material.

Miller-Urey experiment

Experiment simulating early Earth conditions to show that organic molecules could form from inorganic precursors.

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Primordial Soup

Hypothetical set of conditions (water, monomers, energy) that led to the transition from non-living to living matter.

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Macromolecule formation

The process of monomers forming larger polymers like proteins & nucleic acids without enzymes.

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Protocell membrane

Fatty acid bilayer enclosing molecules, maintaining an internal chemistry distinct from the environment.

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Origin of inheritance

Development of mechanisms for transmitting self-replicating molecules (like RNA or DNA) to succeeding generations.

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Vesicle Reproduction

Vesicles can divide to create new vesicles, a fundamental process similar to cellular reproduction.

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Internal Vesicle Metabolism

Vesicles can carry out internal chemical processes.

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RNA Self-Replication

RNA molecules can copy themselves, an essential characteristic for inheritance.

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RNA World Hypothesis

The idea that self-replicating RNA molecules were a precursor to DNA-based life.

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Natural Selection (RNA)

RNA molecules that replicate faster are favored, driving evolutionary change.

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Tree of Life

A visual representation of the evolutionary relationships between all organisms.

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Fossil Record

Historical evidence of past life forms used to understand evolutionary history.

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Biostratigraphy

A method to determine the relative age of rocks based on fossils.

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Radiometric Dating

Determining the absolute age of magmatic rocks by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes.

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Faunal Succession

A predictable vertical sequence of fossils found in rock layers, indicating changes in life forms over time.

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Biozones

Intervals of geological strata characterized by unique fossil compositions, aiding in dating rocks.

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Biomarkers

Fossils of species with specific ecological requirements and short lifespans, useful for dating rocks.

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Isotopes

Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

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Radioactive Decay

The spontaneous breakdown of unstable isotopes, releasing energy and transforming into a different element.

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Fossil Composition

The types of fossils found in a particular rock layer, which can reveal the age and environment of deposition.

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Asymptote in Species Diversity

The point where the number of newly discovered species levels off, suggesting that we've identified most of the existing species.

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Prokaryotic Species Diversity

The number of different prokaryotic species is still largely unknown.

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Species Discovery Rate

The number of new species found per year has decreased significantly.

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Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA)

The hypothetical ancestor of all living organisms on Earth.

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LUCA and Amino Acids

All life forms use the same specific form (L-isomers) of amino acids.

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Universal Genetic Code

The same set of DNA and RNA codons translate into the same amino acids in nearly all living organisms.

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Is LUCA the First Life?

LUCA was not necessarily the first living organism, but represents the last common ancestor of all known life forms.

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Origin of Life Complexity

Life originated from simple molecules, but evolved over time into increasingly complex forms.

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Organelle with circular DNA

Organelles like mitochondria and plastids have their own circular DNA, separate from the cell's nuclear DNA. They also possess their own transcription/translation machinery and ribosomes, similar to bacteria.

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Endosymbiotic Theory

The theory that mitochondria and chloroplasts were once independent bacteria that were engulfed by larger cells and formed a symbiotic relationship. This relationship eventually led to the evolution of eukaryotic cells.

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Multicellularity Origin

The evolution of multicellularity occurred independently at least 25 times, likely through two major mechanisms: the Colonial Hypothesis and the Symbiosis Hypothesis.

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Colonial Hypothesis

Multicellularity arose from colonies of unicellular organisms of the same species. These cells either failed to separate after division or rejoined after separation, leading to specialization and cooperation within the colony.

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Symbiosis Hypothesis

Multicellularity arose from a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship between cells of different species. While this hypothesis seems plausible, it's less likely because it requires merging of both genomes into a single one.

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LUCA

The Last Universal Common Ancestor; the most recent organism from which all living organisms on Earth are descended.

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LUCA's environment

Likely lived near deep-sea vents, anaerobic (no oxygen), rich in CO2 and H2.

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3 Domains of Life

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya; the three main branches of the Tree of Life.

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Domain Bacteria

Diverse group of prokaryotes with varied metabolism (photosynthetic, aerobic, anaerobic, etc.).

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Escherichia coli (E. coli)

A well-studied bacterium with a rapid cell division rate (every 20 minutes).

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Domain Archaea

Prokaryotes often found in extreme environments (heat, acidity, salinity) and many are methanogens.

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Pyrococcus furiosus

A heat-loving archaea used in molecular biology due to its heat-resistant DNA polymerase.

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Domain Eukarya

Includes plants, animals, fungi, and protists; evolved from within the Archaea branch, with a nucleus and other internal structures.

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Serial endosymbiosis

How eukaryotic cells evolved by engulfing prokaryotes (bacterial ancestors of mitochondria and chloroplasts).

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PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

Technique for copying and amplifying DNA using heat-resistant DNA polymerase, often from Archaea.

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Lateral Movement

A type of locomotion where an animal moves by pushing against a substrate with its body, usually involving alternating contractions of muscles on opposite sides.

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Cyclostomes

Vertebrates without jaws, characterized by a circular mouth and a cartilaginous skeleton. They include lampreys and hagfish.

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Paedomorphosis

A process where an organism retains juvenile features into adulthood. This can occur through the retention of larval traits or the acceleration of sexual maturity.

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Gnathostomes

Vertebrates with jaws, characterized by the evolution of jaws from modified gill arches. This group includes all organisms from sharks to mammals.

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Chondrichthyes

A class of fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, including sharks, rays, and skates.

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Protostomia

A large group of bilaterally symmetrical animals that develop their mouths before their anus during embryonic development. They include diverse groups like arthropods, mollusks, and annelids.

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Bilateria

Animals with bilateral symmetry, meaning they have a left and right side, and a defined head and tail. This symmetry evolved alongside triploblasty (three germ layers) approximately 670 million years ago.

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Ecdysozoa

A major group of protostomes that includes animals with an exoskeleton (cuticle) that they shed periodically. This shedding process is called ecdysis. Examples include earthworms, insects, and crustaceans.

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Lophotrochozoa

A diverse group of protostomes that includes animals that either develop a lophophore (feeding structure with ciliated tentacles), or have a trochophore larvae stage. This group contains mollusks, annelids, and flatworms.

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Homology

Similarity in biological structures due to shared ancestry, not just similar function.

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Chordata

Animals distinguished by the presence of a notochord, dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail. They include vertebrates, tunicates, and cephalochordates.

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Notochord

A flexible rod that supports the body of a chordate. It is composed of mesoderm and runs along the length of the body, acting as a supporting structure. The notochord is present in all vertebrate embryos, but is typically replaced by a vertebral column in adults.

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Cephalochordates

A group of chordates commonly known as lancelets. They lack a distinct head and feed by filtering water through the pharynx. They are considered primitive chordates and display all the key characteristics of the group.

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Oviparous

Reproduction where eggs are laid and hatch externally.

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Ovoviviparous

Reproduction where eggs are retained in the mother's body, but the embryo develops using yolk, and hatches inside the uterus.

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Viviparous

Reproduction where embryos develop inside the mother's body, receiving nourishment through a placenta.

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Osteichthyes

Bony fish with a skeleton made of calcium phosphate, usually possessing a swim bladder for buoyancy.

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Swim bladder

Gas-filled sac in bony fish, allowing for buoyancy control in water.

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What are invertebrates?

Animals without a backbone or spine. They encompass a vast majority of animal species, including insects, worms, and mollusks.

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What are the key characteristics of sponges (Porifera)?

They are diploblastic (two germ layers), have radial symmetry, are sessile (attached to a surface), and lack true tissues.

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What are the key characteristics of Ctenophora?

They are diploblastic, have radial symmetry, and possess multiple layers of cells (tissues) including a sensory epidermis and a networked nervous system.

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What is the importance of the notochord in the evolution of vertebrates?

The notochord is a flexible rod that provides structural support to the body, allowing for more efficient movement and a more complex body design. This innovation paved the way for the evolution of the vertebral column in vertebrates.

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What are the key innovations of vertebrates?

Key innovations include a vertebral column (replacing the notochord), a skull protecting the brain, a well-developed brain, and a closed circulatory system with a heart.

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What are gill arches and how have they evolved in vertebrates?

Gill arches are bony or cartilaginous structures that support the gills in fish. They have evolved into jaws in gnathostomes, allowing for more efficient predation and feeding.

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What specific structures allowed early tetrapods to colonize land?

Key adaptations include limbs with digits for walking, a stronger skeleton to support weight, lungs for breathing air, and a more efficient circulatory system to deliver oxygen to tissues.

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What are the key innovations of tetrapods?

Key innovations include limbs with digits, a neck, a more efficient respiratory system, and a water-tight egg.

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What are the two main types of bony fish?

They are Actinopterygii (ray-finned) and Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned).

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Tiktaalik

A lobe-finned fish with both fish and tetrapod traits, considered a transitional fossil between aquatic and terrestrial life.

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Amphibian

Vertebrates with a double life, starting as aquatic larvae and transforming into terrestrial adults.

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Amniotic Egg

A type of egg evolved in reptiles, birds, and mammals, containing a protective membrane and yolk sac.

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Reptile Adaptation

Adaptations for a drier terrestrial life, like dry skin with scales and ectothermy.

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Bird Ancestry

Birds are descended from bipedal dinosaurs, with feathers initially for insulation and then adapting for flight.

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Exaptation

A trait evolving for one purpose but later adapting for a different function.

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Adaptation for Flight

Specialized features in birds enabling flight, such as hollow bones, powerful wings, and efficient respiratory systems.

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Tetrapod

Four-limbed vertebrates, evolved from fish and adapted for terrestrial life.

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What are mammals?

Mammals are warm-blooded vertebrates that possess mammary glands for producing milk to nourish their young. They also have hair or fur for insulation, a larger forebrain for learning, and differentiated teeth for specific functions.

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Key characteristics of primates

Primates are characterized by an opposable thumb for grasping, a large brain, short jaw, parental care, social behaviors, tree-dwelling adaptations, and binocular vision.

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What are hominids?

Hominids are a sub-family of primates that include humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. They share common ancestry, exhibit similar key characteristics like an opposable thumb and large brain, and have a close evolutionary relationship.

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What is special about human chromosome 2?

Chromosome 2 in humans is a result of the fusion of two ancestral chromosomes found in chimpanzees. This fusion event led to a reduction in chromosome number from 48 in chimpanzees to 46 in humans.

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Key features of humans

Humans are characterized by bipedalism, reduced jaws, short digestive tracts, complex language, symbolic thinking, artistic expression, and the ability to create complex tools. Our genome is 99% identical to chimpanzees, with key differences in the expression of regulatory genes.

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What is the significance of the Chauvet Cave?

The Chauvet Cave in France contains remarkable cave paintings dating back 37,000 years, providing evidence of early human artistic expression and symbolic thought.

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Who was Ardipithecus ramidus?

Ardipithecus ramidus was a hominin species that lived in Ethiopia around 4.4 million years ago. Its discovery provided crucial insights into the early evolution of hominins and the transition to bipedalism.

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What is the Stone Age?

The Stone Age is a prehistoric period characterized by the use of stone tools. This period began around 3.4 million years ago, with the earliest known stone tools attributed to early hominins.

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Study Notes

Learning Outcomes

  • Describe the seven properties of life, using an example organism
  • Justify the importance of C, H, N, and O in organic molecules
  • Explain how specific properties of life emerged during protocell formation
  • List advantages of ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules for the emergence of life
  • Explain how the fossil record shows the evolution of organisms
  • Compare two fossil dating methods
  • Describe how the Burgess Shale contributes to understanding animal evolution
  • Define mass extinction, with an example
  • Define adaptive radiation, with an example
  • Analyze graphical data to determine changes in taxonomic diversity
  • List the characteristics of the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA)
  • Name characteristics that distinguish the three domains of life
  • Give examples of organisms for each domain
  • Explain eukaryotes' evolution from endosymbiosis
  • Explain the evolution of multicellularity

7 Properties of Life

  • All living organisms share fundamental properties
  • Viruses aren't considered organisms because they lack cellular organization, internal metabolism, and growth/development

First Evidence of Life on Earth

  • Age of the universe: 13.8 billion years
  • Age of Earth: 4.6 billion years
  • First direct evidence of life: 3.5 billion years
  • Fossils: Preserved remnants or impressions of past organisms
  • Stromatolites: Layered rock formations resulting from photosynthetic prokaryotes binding sediment

Life Uses Carbon (C)

  • Carbon (C), oxygen (O), hydrogen (H), and nitrogen (N) are fundamental to biological molecules
  • These elements make up carbohydrates, proteins, fatty acids, and nucleic acids

How Did Life Originate on Earth?

  • Four necessary steps for life's origins:
    • Abiotic synthesis of small organic molecules (monomers)
    • Polymerization of monomers into macromolecules
    • Packaging of molecules into protocells
    • Origin of inheritance through self-replicating molecules
  • Primordial soup/prebiotic soup: Hypothetical conditions leading to life's emergence from non-living matter

Stanley Miller's Experiment (1953)

  • Simulated early Earth conditions to create organic molecules from inorganic materials
  • Demonstrated abiotic synthesis of amino acids and other organic compounds

Formation of Macromolecules

  • Polymers of amino acids and nitrogenous bases can spontaneously form without enzymes or ribosomes
  • Thermal energy (heat) and mineral catalysts (e.g., clay) help speed up polymerization

Formation of Protocells

  • Protocells: Droplets with membranes that maintained distinct internal chemistries
  • Protocells exhibit fundamental properties, but lack genetic material
  • Experiments show protocells can divide, have internal metabolism, grow, maintain regulated membranes, and respond to the environment, suggesting life's emergence from non-living matter

Self-Replication

  • Proteins and RNA are synthesized from DNA; RNA can both catalyze reactions and self-replicate (as ribozymes)
  • Passing RNA from a splitting vesicle to daughter vesicles constitutes inheritance

Using Fossils

  • Fossils reveal evolutionary relationships among organisms
  • Similarities in morphology, anatomy, or genetic sequences group species together
  • Tree topology is continuously refined as we accumulate new data

Geological and Fossil Records

  • Relative and absolute ages of fossils determine evolutionary history
  • Many fossils belong to extinct species
  • Some fossils resemble existing organisms
  • Organisms can undergo rapid morphological changes
  • Biostratigraphy: determining relative geologic ages of rocks using fossils
  • Radiometric dating: determining absolute geologic ages using radioactive isotopes
  • Faunal succession: vertical sequences of fossils that can be used to identify geologic strata

Biostratigraphy

  • Species with specific ecological requirements, that lived during a short time period, are good indicators of geologic time
  • For example, foraminifera (unicellular aquatic eukaryotes) often well-preserved, exist in a wide range of habitats and show large morphological diversity

Radiometric Dating

  • Radiometric dating uses changes in the isotope composition of geologic materials to determine absolute ages
  • Isotopes: elements with same number of protons but different number of neutrons
  • Unstable (parent) isotopes decay to stable (daughter) isotopes at a constant rate, allowing for the determination of age.
  • Half-life: time it takes for half of a parent isotope to decay to a daughter isotope

The Fossil Record Is Often Incomplete

  • Many fossils were destroyed, and a bias exists towards organisms that existed for a long time and have hard parts
  • Discontinuities in the fossil record reflect geological, ecological, and evolutionary changes

Mass Extinctions

  • Mass extinctions occur when many species go extinct simultaneously
  • These events are often caused by environmental changes such as dramatic changes in temperature, massive volcanism, meteorites, etc.
  • Mass extinctions lead to a cascade of ecological events, but are always followed by adaptive radiation

Key Innovations in the Fossil Record

  • First cells (prokaryotes)
  • Increases in atmospheric oxygen concentration
  • Endosymbiosis (eukaryotes)
  • Sexual reproduction
  • Multicellularity
  • Colonization of land

Number of Species in the Tree

  • Many species are yet to be discovered, and many species went extinct
  • The number of known species of organisms in each taxonomic level tends to reach a maximum
  • The number of prokaryote species is largely unknown

Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA)

  • The LUCA was not the first living organism, but rather the last organism ancestral to all present-day life
  • Identified by the synthesis of amino acids and the universal genetic code
  • Likely a living organism near deep-sea vents, deprived of oxygen and rich in CO2 and hydrogen
  • Its DNA genome was small and circular

Three Domains of Life

  • The three domains of life are Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

Multicellularity

  • Multicellularity evolved about 1.2 billion years ago
  • Colonial hypothesis: Cells remain in a colony because they are unable to separate properly
  • Symbiosis hypothesis: Various cells develop a mutually beneficial relationship

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Related Documents

Topic 8 - The Tree of Life PDF
Topic 13 - The Evolution of Animals II PDF

Description

Test your knowledge on the theories and experiments related to the origin of life on Earth. This quiz covers key concepts such as Stanley Miller's experiment, protocells, and the 'RNA world' hypothesis. Dive into the fascinating transition from abiotic to biotic processes!

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