Question 1

Experiments like those first performed by Miller and Urey demonstrated that ____.

Accepted Answer

A) DNA forms readily and reproduces itself 
B) amino acids and other organic compounds could form in conditions that mimicked the earth's early atmosphere 
C) complete, functioning prokaryotic cells are formed after approximately three months 
D) a lipid-protein film will eventually be formed by thermal convection 
E) meteorites contained organic compounds 
A) DNA forms readily and reproduces itself 
B) amino acids and other organic compounds could form in conditions that mimicked the earth's early atmosphere 
C) complete, functioning prokaryotic cells are formed after approximately three months 
D) a lipid-protein film will eventually be formed by thermal convection 
E) meteorites contained organic compounds

Question 2

What structure may have acted as a boundary for a cell-like environment before protocells formed?

Accepted Answer

A) clay 
B) acidic water from volcanic springs 
C) chambers in rocks 
D) lipid membrane 
E) metal ions from rocks 
A) clay 
B) acidic water from volcanic springs 
C) chambers in rocks 
D) lipid membrane 
E) metal ions from rocks

Question 3

Four of the five answers listed below are proposed steps leading to the first cells. Select the exception.

Accepted Answer

A) the concentration of organic subunits in one place 
B) the formation of protocells 
C) the formation of a cell wall 
D) the start of metabolic reactions 
E) the development of a genome 
A) the concentration of organic subunits in one place 
B) the formation of protocells 
C) the formation of a cell wall 
D) the start of metabolic reactions 
E) the development of a genome

Question 4

The first fossilized eukaryotes date to about how many years ago?

Accepted Answer

A) 3.8 billion 
B) 1.8 billion 
C) 2.1 billion 
D) 1 million 
E) 6,000 
A) 3.8 billion 
B) 1.8 billion 
C) 2.1 billion 
D) 1 million 
E) 6,000

Question 5

By one hypothesis, clay ____.

Accepted Answer

A) facilitated assembly of early organic polymers by concentrating monomers through its negative charge 
B) was present at hydrothermal vents 
C) provided energy for early metabolism 
D) has a positive charge and repelled organic monomers 
E) helped physically form the plasma membrane of protocells 
A) facilitated assembly of early organic polymers by concentrating monomers through its negative charge 
B) was present at hydrothermal vents 
C) provided energy for early metabolism 
D) has a positive charge and repelled organic monomers 
E) helped physically form the plasma membrane of protocells

Question 6

The first organisms were most probably ____.

Accepted Answer

A) eukaryotic 
B) multicellular 
C) protozoans 
D) prokaryotic 
E) algae 
A) eukaryotic 
B) multicellular 
C) protozoans 
D) prokaryotic 
E) algae

Question 7

What has been detected in meteorites that have fallen to Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) organic polymers 
B) evidence of cells with a nucleus 
C) organic compounds 
D) fossilized proto-cells 
E) oxygen molecules 
A) organic polymers 
B) evidence of cells with a nucleus 
C) organic compounds 
D) fossilized proto-cells 
E) oxygen molecules

Question 8

Before DNA, ____ likely served as the genetic material.

Accepted Answer

A) carbohydrate 
B) lipid 
C) protein 
D) RNA 
E) free nucleotides 
A) carbohydrate 
B) lipid 
C) protein 
D) RNA 
E) free nucleotides

Question 9

Mitochondria arose from an endosymbiotic relationship between a eukaryotic cell and an aerobic bacterium. Which statement supports this theory?

Accepted Answer

A) Mitochondria can produce ATP outside of a eukaryotic cell. 
B) A mitochondrion can survive indefinitely when removed from a eukaryotic cell. 
C) A mitochondrion has its own DNA in the form of a single circular chromosome, like bacteria. 
D) Fossilized mitochondria are older than the oldest fossilized eukaryotes. 
E) A mitochondrion has only one outer membrane. 
A) Mitochondria can produce ATP outside of a eukaryotic cell. 
B) A mitochondrion can survive indefinitely when removed from a eukaryotic cell. 
C) A mitochondrion has its own DNA in the form of a single circular chromosome, like bacteria. 
D) Fossilized mitochondria are older than the oldest fossilized eukaryotes. 
E) A mitochondrion has only one outer membrane.

Question 10

The first O2 producing organisms were probably ____.

Accepted Answer

A) Archaea 
B) cyanobacteria 
C) green alga 
D) red alga 
E) plants 
A) Archaea 
B) cyanobacteria 
C) green alga 
D) red alga 
E) plants

Question 11

Stromatolites were formed by ____.

Accepted Answer

A) animals 
B) heterotrophic bacteria 
C) photosynthetic bacteria 
D) red alga 
E) plants 
A) animals 
B) heterotrophic bacteria 
C) photosynthetic bacteria 
D) red alga 
E) plants

Question 12

A rise in oxygen in Earth's air and seas put organisms that engaged in ____ at a selective advantage.

Accepted Answer

A) aerobic respiration 
B) fermentation 
C) photosynthesis 
D) sexual reproduction 
E) anaerobic respiration 
A) aerobic respiration 
B) fermentation 
C) photosynthesis 
D) sexual reproduction 
E) anaerobic respiration

Question 13

While it is very difficult to find fossils of the earliest cells, there are some probable early cell characteristics. Four of the five answers represent possible traits that the first cells may have had. Select the exception.

Accepted Answer

A) prokaryotic 
B) autotroph 
C) aerobic 
D) anaerobic 
E) heterotroph 
A) prokaryotic 
B) autotroph 
C) aerobic 
D) anaerobic 
E) heterotroph

Question 14

Which process or element was present first?

Accepted Answer

A) aerobic respiration 
B) chloroplasts 
C) mitochondria 
D) fungi 
E) photosynthesis 
A) aerobic respiration 
B) chloroplasts 
C) mitochondria 
D) fungi 
E) photosynthesis

Question 15

The prevalence of iron-sulfide cofactors in organisms supports the hypothesis that life arose _____.

Accepted Answer

A) in outer space 
B) on tidal flats 
C) near geothermal vents 
D) in the upper atmosphere 
E) in volcanic springs 
A) in outer space 
B) on tidal flats 
C) near geothermal vents 
D) in the upper atmosphere 
E) in volcanic springs

Question 16

The earliest species known to reproduce sexually was a(n) ____.

Accepted Answer

A) archaeabacterium 
B) cyanobacterium 
C) fungus 
D) green alga 
E) red alga 
A) archaeabacterium 
B) cyanobacterium 
C) fungus 
D) green alga 
E) red alga

Question 17

The first major split in evolution separated ____.

Accepted Answer

A) Archaea from bacteria and eukaryote ancestors 
B) Bacteria from Archaea and eukaryote ancestors 
C) eukaryote ancestors from Archaea and Bacteria 
D) Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya lineages from each other 
E) Bacteria and Archaea 
A) Archaea from bacteria and eukaryote ancestors 
B) Bacteria from Archaea and eukaryote ancestors 
C) eukaryote ancestors from Archaea and Bacteria 
D) Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya lineages from each other 
E) Bacteria and Archaea

Question 18

Four of the five features below are exclusive to the domain Eukarya. Select the exception.

Accepted Answer

A) linear chromosomes 
B) nucleus 
C) mitochondria 
D) chloroplasts 
E) cell wall 
A) linear chromosomes 
B) nucleus 
C) mitochondria 
D) chloroplasts 
E) cell wall

Question 19

Chloroplasts ____.

Accepted Answer

A) evolved from cyanobacteria 
B) have been found as symbionts inside mitochondria 
C) evolved from photosynthetic eukaryotes 
D) have membrane bound nuclei containing DNA 
E) are the sites of aerobic respiration 
A) evolved from cyanobacteria 
B) have been found as symbionts inside mitochondria 
C) evolved from photosynthetic eukaryotes 
D) have membrane bound nuclei containing DNA 
E) are the sites of aerobic respiration

Question 20

Discoveries by ____ led other scientists to reconsider the possibility that life most likely arose near hydrothermal vents on the sea floor.

Accepted Answer

A) Orgel and Crick 
B) Ballard 
C) Miller and Urey 
D) Watson and Crick 
E) Starr 
A) Orgel and Crick 
B) Ballard 
C) Miller and Urey 
D) Watson and Crick 
E) Starr

Exam 18: Lifes Origin and Early Evolution

Experiments like those first performed by Miller and Urey demonstrated that ____.

What structure may have acted as a boundary for a cell-like environment before protocells formed?

Four of the five answers listed below are proposed steps leading to the first cells. Select the exception.

The first fossilized eukaryotes date to about how many years ago?

By one hypothesis, clay ____.

The first organisms were most probably ____.

What has been detected in meteorites that have fallen to Earth?

Before DNA, ____ likely served as the genetic material.

Mitochondria arose from an endosymbiotic relationship between a eukaryotic cell and an aerobic bacterium. Which statement supports this theory?

The first O2 producing organisms were probably ____.

Stromatolites were formed by ____.

A rise in oxygen in Earth's air and seas put organisms that engaged in ____ at a selective advantage.

While it is very difficult to find fossils of the earliest cells, there are some probable early cell characteristics. Four of the five answers represent possible traits that the first cells may have had. Select the exception.

Which process or element was present first?

The prevalence of iron-sulfide cofactors in organisms supports the hypothesis that life arose _____.

The earliest species known to reproduce sexually was a(n) ____.

The first major split in evolution separated ____.

Four of the five features below are exclusive to the domain Eukarya. Select the exception.

Chloroplasts ____.

Discoveries by ____ led other scientists to reconsider the possibility that life most likely arose near hydrothermal vents on the sea floor.

The Science of Biology

Lifes Chemical Basis

Molecules of Life

Cell Structure

Ground Rules of Metabolism

Where It Starts-Photosynthesis

Releasing Chemical Energy

DNA Structure and Function

From DNA to Protein

Control of Gene Expression

How Cells Reproduce

Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction

Patterns in Inherited Traits

Human Inheritance

Biotechnology

Evidence of Evolution

Processes of Evolution

Viruses, Bacteria, and Archaea

The Protists

Plant Evolution

Fungi

Animals I: Major Invertebrate Groups

Animals Ii: the Chordates

Plant Tissues

Plant Nutrition and Transport

Plant Reproduction and Development

Animal Tissues and Organ Systems

Neural Control

Sensory Perception

Endocrine Control

Structural Support and Movement

Circulation

Immunity

Respiration

Digestion and Human Nutrition

Maintaining the Internal Environment

Reproduction and Development

Animal Behavior

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Ecosystems

The Biosphere

Human Effects on the Biosphere

Filters

The first O₂ producing organisms were probably ____.