SN Human Evolution and The Origin of Life Study Guide- Quiz

Podcast Beta

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

Which group of animals includes reptiles, birds, and mammals?

Craniates

Tetrapods

Amniotes (correct)

Urochordates

What is the precursor to the backbones and nervous system in chordates?

Nerve cord

Postanal tail

Notochord (correct)

Gill slits

Which group of animals has all chordate characteristics in their juvenile state but lose them in their adult form?

Amniotes

Cephalochordates

Craniates

Urochordates (correct)

What type of animals are sand dollars, sea urchins, and sea stars?

Echinoderms Signup and view all the answers

Which group of animals diverged first according to the text?

Craniates Signup and view all the answers

What do amniotes, including reptiles, birds, and mammals, have that allows them to reproduce on land?

Terrestrially adapted egg Signup and view all the answers

Which trait is not specific to mammals?

Feathered skin Signup and view all the answers

Approximately when did Homo erectus evolve in Africa?

2 million years ago Signup and view all the answers

What significant discovery was made in human evolution regarding Ardipithecus ramidus (Ardi) and Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy)?

They were significant remains in human evolution Signup and view all the answers

What do modern humans have in comparison to their ancestors?

Engagement in symbolic thought Signup and view all the answers

Where did Homo sapiens originate?

Africa Signup and view all the answers

When did human migration occur to some parts of the world?

Very recently Signup and view all the answers

What was the Earth's early atmosphere lacking, allowing for the abiotic synthesis of organic compounds?

Oxygen Signup and view all the answers

What did Miller and Urey's experiments demonstrate the possibility of synthesizing abiotically?

Organic compounds Signup and view all the answers

Which theory of life's origins gained acceptance, requiring four steps including the emergence of self-replicating entities?

Biogenesis Signup and view all the answers

What did early theories of life's origins include, eventually discredited by experiments?

Spontaneous generation Signup and view all the answers

All of the characteristics of life can be classified into 3 categories- two of these categories are energy and materials; what is the third?

Information (including genetic & sensory) Signup and view all the answers

When did life on Earth begin, according to evidence?

Between 3.5 billion and 3.9 billion years ago Signup and view all the answers

What is a key benefit of bipedal movement in early hominids?

Efficient locomotion and freeing the hands Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant factor correlated with the increase in human brain size over several million years?

Social behavior and language use Signup and view all the answers

What did the Laetoli footprints provide valuable information about?

Walking patterns and behavior of early hominids Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect correlated with the evolution of the human phenotype?

Cultural evolution impacting traits such as fire use and sociality Signup and view all the answers

What is a common requirement for all characteristics of life?

Energy, materials, and information for survival, growth, and reproduction Signup and view all the answers

What is a key impact of energy use on societies?

Lower annual fertility rates Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true about protobionts?

They are precursors to prokaryotic cells and exhibit basic metabolism. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of RNA in early organisms?

It was likely the earliest genetic material due to its multiple functions and importance. Signup and view all the answers

What led to the emission of oxygen into the atmosphere approximately 2.2 billion years ago?

Photosynthesis Signup and view all the answers

What is the endosymbiosis hypothesis about the emergence of eukaryotic cells?

Eukaryotic cells emerged as one prokaryotic cell engulfed another in a symbiotic relationship. Signup and view all the answers

According to the serial endosymbiosis theory, what evolved before chloroplasts in early eukaryotes?

Mitochondria Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the incorporation of prokaryotic cells into early eukaryotes?

It led to the ancestral heterotrophic and photosynthetic eukaryotic cells. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are not common to chordates?

specialized teeth Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated timeframe for the origin of humans based on DNA evidence?

200,000 years ago Signup and view all the answers

Approximately when did the change in climate occur, impacting the evolution of primates?

23 million years ago Signup and view all the answers

Which species are NOT mentioned as having coexisted with Homo sapiens at different points in time?

Homo erectus Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about the evolution of Homo sapiens?

Homo sapiens evolved from chimps Signup and view all the answers

Which best describes the evolution of primates over the past five million years?

A mini-adaptive radiation with no linear progression Signup and view all the answers

Approximately when did Homo sapiens emerge?

200,000 years ago Signup and view all the answers

What distinguished Homo sapiens from Homo erectus?

Smaller teeth and jaws Signup and view all the answers

What was a characteristic of Homo habilis?

Existed 2.3 to 1.3 million years ago Signup and view all the answers

What was the lifestyle of Homo sapiens until 10,000 years ago?

Hunter-gatherers Signup and view all the answers

Which continent does the overwhelming evidence suggest humans arose from?

Africa Signup and view all the answers

What was the estimated age of the Laetoli footprints?

3.7 million years ago Signup and view all the answers

What did the evolution of bipedal movement provide to early hominids?

Efficient locomotion and predator avoidance Signup and view all the answers

What is correlated with the evolution of the human phenotype?

Fire, tools, agriculture, dietary changes, sociality, and monogamy Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Laetoli footprints?

Provided valuable information about how early humans walked Signup and view all the answers

What is one theory about the energy freed up by bipedal movement?

It could be used for brain function Signup and view all the answers

When did mammals arise?

175 million years ago Signup and view all the answers

When did hominids arise?

5 million years ago Signup and view all the answers

When did Homo sapiens arise?

200,000 years ago Signup and view all the answers

When did the Great Apes arise?

25 million years ago Signup and view all the answers

What is a distinguishing characteristic of living things related to their internal environment?

They have an internal environment different from the outside world Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is essential for life as it is required for all biological processes?

Metabolism Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature that separates living things from inanimate objects?

Reproduction Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the best definition of life according to Dr. Gillooly?

A dynamic system composed of elements, self-organizing, responsive to the environment, and capable of replication Signup and view all the answers

Why do scientists debate whether a virus, which lacks metabolism, is alive?

Because metabolism is considered a defining characteristic of life Signup and view all the answers

What is the main challenge scientists face in understanding the origin of life?

The inability to replicate self-replication in a laboratory setting Signup and view all the answers

What process occurs when solutions with organic monomers are dripped onto hot rocks in a laboratory setting?

Dehydration reaction causing polymerization Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the formation of protobionts in the context of the origin of life?

They create their own 'mini-environment' separate from the surrounding environment Signup and view all the answers

What is the earliest genetic material believed to have been present in the earliest life forms?

RNA, because it performs more functions than DNA Signup and view all the answers

What was the by-product of the process of photosynthesis that drastically changed Earth's environment?

Oxygen Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the term 'prokaryotes'?

It refers to a grouping of Bacteria and Archaea, which lacked membrane-bound organelles Signup and view all the answers

What played an important role in preparing the Earth for eukaryotes?

Cyanobacteria in eutrophied lakes Signup and view all the answers

What was the main reason why early organisms were likely anaerobes?

Low oxygen levels in Earth's early atmosphere Signup and view all the answers

What led to the increase in oxygen levels in the atmosphere approximately 2.7 billion years ago?

Photosynthetic organisms Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes eukaryotes from prokaryotes?

Presence of a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles Signup and view all the answers

What is the endosymbiosis hypothesis regarding the emergence of eukaryotic cells?

Eukaryotic cells emerged as one prokaryotic cell engulfed another and formed a symbiotic relationship Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated age of the earliest fossils of eukaryotes?

2.1 billion years Signup and view all the answers

What led to the development of endoplasmic reticulum, a nuclear envelope, and a well-defined nucleus in eukaryotic cells?

Infolding of the plasma membrane Signup and view all the answers

What resulted in the ancestral heterotrophic eukaryotic cell?

Engulfment of aerobic heterotrophic prokaryotes Signup and view all the answers

What caused the development of endoplasmic reticulum, a nuclear envelope, and a well-defined nucleus in eukaryotic cells?

Infolding of the plasma membrane Signup and view all the answers

What was the result of some cells engulfing photosynthetic prokaryotes?

Ancestral photosynthetic eukaryote Signup and view all the answers

What is believed to be the precursor to mitochondria in eukaryotic cells?

Aerobic heterotrophic prokaryotes Signup and view all the answers

True or false: The development of endoplasmic reticulum, a nuclear envelope, and a well-defined nucleus in eukaryotic cells was caused by an infolding of their plasma membrane?

True Signup and view all the answers

True or false: The ancestral heterotrophic eukaryotic cell resulted from the engulfment of aerobic heterotrophic prokaryotes, the precursors to mitochondria?

True Signup and view all the answers

True or false: The ancestral photosynthetic eukaryote resulted from the engulfment of photosynthetic prokaryotes, the precursors to chloroplasts?

True Signup and view all the answers

What evidence supports the serial endosymbiosis theory for the emergence of mitochondria and chloroplasts in early eukaryotes?

Chloroplasts, mitochondria, and prokaryotes share similar inner membranes Signup and view all the answers

What did Dr. Gillooly point out as evidence supporting the serial endosymbiosis theory?

The observation of endosymbiosis at work in the laboratory Signup and view all the answers

What was the sequence of incorporation of organelles according to the serial endosymbiosis theory?

Mitochondria evolved before chloroplasts Signup and view all the answers

According to the serial endosymbiosis theory, mitochondria evolved before chloroplasts.

True Signup and view all the answers

Lynn Margulis published the serial endosymbiosis theory in 1981 and it was widely accepted at the time.

False Signup and view all the answers

The Hatena arenicola is a single-celled eukaryote that transitions into an autotroph by engulfing and incorporating a photosynthetic algae cell.

True Signup and view all the answers

Early prokaryotes developed the ability to use the prodigious amounts of ultraviolet light in Earth's early atmosphere to fix carbon via photosynthesis.

True Signup and view all the answers

According to this theory, plastids (such as chloroplasts) and mitochondria are the evolutionary remnants of early prokaryotic endosymbionts, which are organisms living inside other organisms.

Endosymbiotic Theory Signup and view all the answers

The evidence supporting the endosymbiosis theory is considerable, but not conclusive.

True Signup and view all the answers

Scientists believe that multicellularity first evolved how long ago? ,

approximately 1.2 billion years ago Signup and view all the answers

What is the most accepted theory of multicellularity today?

The Colonial Theory Signup and view all the answers

What are examples of modern-day organisms that demonstrates the beliefs of the Colonial Theory?

all of the above Signup and view all the answers

Continental drift is the process whereby the continental plates slowly move over the planet's hot mantle and cause geological events, such as earthquakes, lava flow, and the formation of islands and mountains.

True Signup and view all the answers

The geological events caused by Continental Drift (such as earthquakes and lava flow) are independent from species diversity on earth.

False Signup and view all the answers

A homoplasy is another term for ____________.

convergent evolution Signup and view all the answers

Neutral changes to DNA sequences and vestigial traits are good examples of ...

nonadaptive traits Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth

Protobionts, precursors to prokaryotic cells, spontaneously cluster in an abiotic environment, forming the earliest membranes.
Protobionts exhibit basic metabolism by maintaining an internal environment different from their external environment.
Self-replication, a key requirement for life, is the only aspect that scientists have been unable to create in the laboratory.
The earliest life forms on Earth were prokaryotes, including Bacteria and Archaea, with humans more closely related to Archaea.
RNA, not DNA, was likely the earliest genetic material due to its multiple functions and importance in early organisms.
Photosynthesis led to the emission of oxygen into the atmosphere, creating conditions for aerobic respiration to evolve approximately 2.2 billion years ago.
Prokaryotes, particularly cyanobacteria, played a crucial role in increasing oxygen levels in the atmosphere through photosynthesis.
Eukaryotes, distinct from prokaryotes, emerged around 2.1 billion years ago with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
The endosymbiosis hypothesis suggests that eukaryotic cells emerged as one prokaryotic cell engulfed another in a symbiotic relationship.
The infolding of the plasma membrane led to the development of endoplasmic reticulum, a nuclear envelope, and a well-defined nucleus in eukaryotic cells.
According to the serial endosymbiosis theory, mitochondria evolved before chloroplasts in early eukaryotes.
The incorporation of prokaryotic cells into early eukaryotes led to the ancestral heterotrophic and photosynthetic eukaryotic cells.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Explore the fascinating journey of life on Earth with this quiz on the origin and evolution of life. Test your knowledge on protobionts, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, the role of photosynthesis, and the development of genetic material. Delve into the theories surrounding the emergence of life, from the earliest forms to the complex eukaryotic cells we know today.