Question 1

Fossils from the Paleozoic are plentiful because

Accepted Answer

A)  mammals greatly diversified during this time. 
B)  multicellular organisms first evolved during this time. 
C)  this is the time period most studied. 
D)  hard body parts evolved in plants and animals. 
A)  mammals greatly diversified during this time. 
B)  multicellular organisms first evolved during this time. 
C)  this is the time period most studied. 
D)  hard body parts evolved in plants and animals. D

Question 2

Describe plate tectonics and why it is important in the evolution of life forms.

Accepted Answer

Plate tectonics theory maintains that the Earth's outermost layers are fragmented into slablike plates that are less dense, and therefore "float" on the lower hot mantle layer. Both continents and oceans are part of these tectonic plates. As the molten mantle heats and cools, rising and sinking, it moves like a conveyor belt, moving the tectonic plates slowly across the surface of the Earth. Some plates move apart, while others scrape past each other or crash into one another. The plates are still moving, slowly but continually around the Earth. One must remember that life evolved in the oceans and on the continents that are part of these "moving" tectonic plates. Very simply, this means that the Earth's environment was and is always changing. At one time, Australia was near the South Pole, as was India. There was no Atlantic Ocean, and South America and Africa were joined. Organisms adapt to changing environments, and the theory of plate tectonics provides for the ever changing environment in which evolution occurs. Knowing that supercontinents have existed, followed by isolated or partially joined land masses helps to explain the distribution patterns of fossils and the interesting distribution of living organisms on Earth today.

Question 3

Which piece of evidence best supports the endosymbiotic theory of organelle evolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mitochondria and chloroplast are the same size as bacteria. 
B)  Mitochondria and chloroplast divide by binary fission. 
C)  Mitochondria and chloroplast both contain DNA and some can make their own proteins. 
D)  The outer membrane of chloroplast and mitochondria resemble that of a eukaryotic cell while the inner membrane resembles that of a bacterial cell. 
E)  All of these are correct. 
A)  Mitochondria and chloroplast are the same size as bacteria. 
B)  Mitochondria and chloroplast divide by binary fission. 
C)  Mitochondria and chloroplast both contain DNA and some can make their own proteins. 
D)  The outer membrane of chloroplast and mitochondria resemble that of a eukaryotic cell while the inner membrane resembles that of a bacterial cell. 
E)  All of these are correct. D

Question 4

The fact that a nucleic acid is a very complicated molecule suggests that

Accepted Answer

A)  the RNA-first hypothesis is impossible. 
B)  RNA could not have arisen on its own by chance, but required enzymes to guide the synthesis of nucleotides and then nucleic acids. 
C)  sophisticated enzymes were not present or available to synthesize it. 
D)  no natural system could ever generate it. 
E)  the protein-first hypothesis is therefore the only plausible hypothesis. 
A)  the RNA-first hypothesis is impossible. 
B)  RNA could not have arisen on its own by chance, but required enzymes to guide the synthesis of nucleotides and then nucleic acids. 
C)  sophisticated enzymes were not present or available to synthesize it. 
D)  no natural system could ever generate it. 
E)  the protein-first hypothesis is therefore the only plausible hypothesis.

Question 5

Mass extinctions v: 02_072014_QC_43242

Accepted Answer

A)  have occurred at least 5 times in the Earth's history. 
B)  may have been due to climatic changes after meteorite collisions. 
C)  may have been due to changing environments caused by continental drift. 
D)  All of the choices are correct. 
A)  have occurred at least 5 times in the Earth's history. 
B)  may have been due to climatic changes after meteorite collisions. 
C)  may have been due to changing environments caused by continental drift. 
D)  All of the choices are correct.

Question 6

The place where two plates meet and scrape past one another, creating stress that results in earthquakes is a

Accepted Answer

A)  subduction zone. 
B)  transform boundary. 
C)  oceanic ridge. 
D)  supercontinent. 
A)  subduction zone. 
B)  transform boundary. 
C)  oceanic ridge. 
D)  supercontinent.

Question 7

The term "reducing atmosphere" for the early Earth means that the atmosphere

Accepted Answer

A)  was much thinner around the surface of the Earth than now. 
B)  contained only two or three kinds of gases. 
C)  contained little or no free oxygen. 
D)  contained little or no free nitrogen. 
E)  contained little or no carbon dioxide. 
A)  was much thinner around the surface of the Earth than now. 
B)  contained only two or three kinds of gases. 
C)  contained little or no free oxygen. 
D)  contained little or no free nitrogen. 
E)  contained little or no carbon dioxide.

Question 8

___________ proposed that clay may have served as the site of polymerization of monomers to produce both nucleic acids and proteins at the same time.

Accepted Answer

A)  Stanley Miller 
B)  Graham Cairns-Smith 
C)  Thomas Cech 
D)  Aleksander Oparin 
E)  Sidney Fox 
A)  Stanley Miller 
B)  Graham Cairns-Smith 
C)  Thomas Cech 
D)  Aleksander Oparin 
E)  Sidney Fox

Question 9

Organisms today are living in the Pleistocene epoch of the Cenozoic era.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

List in order of appearance the four stages of the origin of life and explain what was necessary to occur in order for life to have evolved in this fashion.

Accepted Answer

Answers may vary a bit but should includ

Question 11

Which statement is NOT true about the RNA-first hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is supported by the discovery that RNA can act as an enzyme. 
B)  It is supported by the fact that some viruses have RNA as their genetic material. 
C)  It suggests that there was an "RNA world" about 4 billion years ago. 
D)  It says that first RNA, then DNA, and then proteins would have been necessary to interact in the chemical evolution that would have led to the development of the first cells. 
A)  It is supported by the discovery that RNA can act as an enzyme. 
B)  It is supported by the fact that some viruses have RNA as their genetic material. 
C)  It suggests that there was an "RNA world" about 4 billion years ago. 
D)  It says that first RNA, then DNA, and then proteins would have been necessary to interact in the chemical evolution that would have led to the development of the first cells.

Question 12

The oxygen in the atmosphere developed approximately _____ billion years ago.

Accepted Answer

A)  1.5 
B)  2.0 
C)  3.5 
D)  4.5 
A)  1.5 
B)  2.0 
C)  3.5 
D)  4.5

Question 13

Huge meteor craters have been discovered through satellite imagery that support the theory of mass extinctions being caused by bolides that initiated climatic changes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Which of the following lists of mass extinctions and Eras is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Precambrian experienced 0, Paleozoic experienced 3, Mesozoic experienced 2 and the Cretaceous experienced 0 mass extinctions. 
B)  The Precambrian experienced 2, Paleozoic experienced 2, Mesozoic experienced 3 and the Cretaceous experienced 0 mass extinctions. 
C)  The Precambrian experienced 0, Paleozoic experienced 2, Mesozoic experienced 3 and the Cretaceous experienced 0 mass extinctions. 
D)  The Precambrian experienced 1, Paleozoic experienced 3, Mesozoic experienced 2 and the Cretaceous experienced 1 mass extinctions. 
A)  The Precambrian experienced 0, Paleozoic experienced 3, Mesozoic experienced 2 and the Cretaceous experienced 0 mass extinctions. 
B)  The Precambrian experienced 2, Paleozoic experienced 2, Mesozoic experienced 3 and the Cretaceous experienced 0 mass extinctions. 
C)  The Precambrian experienced 0, Paleozoic experienced 2, Mesozoic experienced 3 and the Cretaceous experienced 0 mass extinctions. 
D)  The Precambrian experienced 1, Paleozoic experienced 3, Mesozoic experienced 2 and the Cretaceous experienced 1 mass extinctions.

Question 15

The Greek terms for "small" and "ball" are the root words for

Accepted Answer

A)  proteinoid. 
B)  polymer. 
C)  microsphere. 
D)  coacervate. 
E)  liposome. 
A)  proteinoid. 
B)  polymer. 
C)  microsphere. 
D)  coacervate. 
E)  liposome.

Question 16

All of the following statements concerning the theory of continental drift are true EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  the coastlines of several continents are mirror images. 
B)  similar geological structures are found in areas where the continents touched. 
C)  continental drift has ceased. 
D)  the unique distribution patterns of several fossils is explained by continental drift. 
A)  the coastlines of several continents are mirror images. 
B)  similar geological structures are found in areas where the continents touched. 
C)  continental drift has ceased. 
D)  the unique distribution patterns of several fossils is explained by continental drift.

Question 17

Which biological events took place during the Paleozoic Era and the Mesozoic Era?

Accepted Answer

A)  During the Paleozoic Era three mass extinctions occurred which led to the colonization of land by plants while during the Mesozoic Era gymnosperms became the dominant plant life. 
B)  During the Mesozoic Era three mass extinctions occurred which led to the colonization of land by plants while during the Paleozoic Era gymnosperms became the dominant plant life. 
C)  During the Paleozoic Era five mass extinctions occurred which led to the colonization of land by plants while during the Mesozoic Era angiosperms became the dominant plant life. 
D)  During the Mesozoic Era five mass extinctions occurred which led to the colonization of land by plants while during the Paleozoic Era angiosperms became the dominant plant life. 
A)  During the Paleozoic Era three mass extinctions occurred which led to the colonization of land by plants while during the Mesozoic Era gymnosperms became the dominant plant life. 
B)  During the Mesozoic Era three mass extinctions occurred which led to the colonization of land by plants while during the Paleozoic Era gymnosperms became the dominant plant life. 
C)  During the Paleozoic Era five mass extinctions occurred which led to the colonization of land by plants while during the Mesozoic Era angiosperms became the dominant plant life. 
D)  During the Mesozoic Era five mass extinctions occurred which led to the colonization of land by plants while during the Paleozoic Era angiosperms became the dominant plant life.

Question 18

Explain why stromatolites are believed to hold a clue to the origin of the first prokaryotic cells on Earth during the Precambrian Era.

Accepted Answer

Answers may vary but should indicate tha

Question 19

Wegener first presented the idea of continental drift in 1920 and this theory was confirmed in 1960.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

If the hypothesis that protocells were based on an "RNA world" is correct, what would be necessary to shift to a "DNA world"?

Accepted Answer

A)  an enzyme or reaction capable of removing one oxygen from ribose in nucleotides 
B)  enzymes for reverse transcription of RNA into DNA 
C)  new enzymes to replicate the DNA 
D)  new enzymes for transcribing DNA back to RNA 
E)  All would be necessary to switch to a "DNA world." 
A)  an enzyme or reaction capable of removing one oxygen from ribose in nucleotides 
B)  enzymes for reverse transcription of RNA into DNA 
C)  new enzymes to replicate the DNA 
D)  new enzymes for transcribing DNA back to RNA 
E)  All would be necessary to switch to a "DNA world."

Exam 18: Origin and History of Life

Fossils from the Paleozoic are plentiful because

Describe plate tectonics and why it is important in the evolution of life forms.

Which piece of evidence best supports the endosymbiotic theory of organelle evolution?

The fact that a nucleic acid is a very complicated molecule suggests that

Mass extinctions v: 02_072014_QC_43242

The place where two plates meet and scrape past one another, creating stress that results in earthquakes is a

The term "reducing atmosphere" for the early Earth means that the atmosphere

___________ proposed that clay may have served as the site of polymerization of monomers to produce both nucleic acids and proteins at the same time.

Organisms today are living in the Pleistocene epoch of the Cenozoic era.

List in order of appearance the four stages of the origin of life and explain what was necessary to occur in order for life to have evolved in this fashion.

Which statement is NOT true about the RNA-first hypothesis?

The oxygen in the atmosphere developed approximately _____ billion years ago.

Huge meteor craters have been discovered through satellite imagery that support the theory of mass extinctions being caused by bolides that initiated climatic changes.

Which of the following lists of mass extinctions and Eras is correct?

The Greek terms for "small" and "ball" are the root words for

All of the following statements concerning the theory of continental drift are true EXCEPT

Which biological events took place during the Paleozoic Era and the Mesozoic Era?

Explain why stromatolites are believed to hold a clue to the origin of the first prokaryotic cells on Earth during the Precambrian Era.

Wegener first presented the idea of continental drift in 1920 and this theory was confirmed in 1960.

If the hypothesis that protocells were based on an "RNA world" is correct, what would be necessary to shift to a "DNA world"?

A View of Life

Basic Chemistry

The Chemistry of Organic Molecules

Cell Structure and Function

Membrane Structure and Function

Metabolism: Energy and Enzymes

Photosynthesis

Cellular Respiration

The Cell Cycle and Cellular Reproduction

Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction

Mendelian Patterns of Inheritance

Molecular Biology of the Gene

Regulation of Gene Expression

Biotechnology and Genomics

Darwin and Evolution

How Populations Evolve

Speciation and Macroevolution

Taxonomy, Systematics, and Phylogeny

Viruses, Bacteria, and Archaea

Protist Evolution and Diversity

Fungi Evolution and Diversity

Plant Evolution and Diversity

Flowering Plants: Structureand Organization

Flowering Plants: Nutrition and Transport

Flowering Plants: Control of Growth Responses

Flowering Plants: Reproduction

Invertebrate Evolution

Vertebrate Evolution

Human Evolution

Animal Organization and Homeostasis

Circulation and Cardiovascular Systems

The Lymphatic and Immune Systems

Digestive Systems and Nutrition

Respiratory Systems

Body Fluid Regulation and Excretory Systems

Neurons and Nervous Systems

Sense Organs

Locomotion and Support Systems

Hormones and Endocrine Systems

Reproductive Systems

Animal Development

Behavioral Ecology

Population Ecology

Community and Ecosystem Ecology

Major Ecosystems of the Biosphere

Conservation of Biodiversity

Filters