Exam 24: Early Life and the Diversification of Prokaryotes

Please use the following information to answer the question(s) below. Nitrogenase, the enzyme that catalyzes nitrogen fixation, is inhibited whenever free O₂ reaches a critical concentration. Consequently, nitrogen fixation cannot occur in cells wherein photosynthesis produces free O₂. Consider the colonial aquatic cyanobacterium Anabaena, whose heterocytes are described as having "a thickened cell wall that restricts entry of O₂ produced by neighboring cells. Intracellular connections allow heterocysts to transport fixed nitrogen to neighboring cells in exchange for carbohydrates." -Which two of the following questions arise from a careful reading of this quotation and are most important for understanding how N2 enters heterocysts and how O₂ is kept out of heterocysts? 1) If carbohydrates can enter the heterocysts from neighboring cells via the "intracellular connections," how is it that O₂ doesn't also enter via this route? 2) If the cell walls of Anabaena's photosynthetic cells are permeable to O₂ and CO₂, are they also permeable to N2? 3) If the nuclei of the photosynthetic cells contain the genes that code for nitrogen fixation, how can these cells fail to perform nitrogen fixation? 4) If the nuclei of the heterocysts contain the genes that code for photosynthesis, how can these cells fail to perform photosynthesis? 5) If the cell walls of Anabaena's heterocysts are permeable to N2, how is it that N2 doesn't diffuse out of the heterocysts before it can be fixed? 6) If the thick cell walls of the heterocysts exclude entry of oxygen gas, how is it that they don't also exclude the entry of nitrogen gas?

Match the numbered terms to the description that follows. Choose all appropriate terms. 1) autotroph 2) heterotroph 3) phototroph 4) chemotroph A prokaryote that obtains both energy and carbon as it decomposes dead organisms

Broad-spectrum antibiotics inhibit the growth of most intestinal bacteria. Consequently, assuming that nothing is done to counter the reduction of intestinal bacteria, a hospital patient who is receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics is most likely to become

Several scientific laboratories across the globe are performing research concerning the origin of life on Earth. Suppose one of these laboratories conducts abiotic experiment(s) to test the potential for hydrogen bonding between various nucleic acids and amino acids. Which of the following results of such experiments are most consistent with our current understanding of Earth's first genetic systems?

How were conditions on the early Earth of more than 3 billion years ago different from those on today's Earth?

Suppose it were possible to conduct sophisticated microscopic and chemical analyses of microfossils found in 3.5-billion-year-old stromatolites. Which of the following structures would be surprising to observe? I. RNA II. vesicles III. a nucleus IV. ribozymes

Which of the following steps has not yet been accomplished by scientists studying the origin of life?

Match the numbered terms to the description that follows. Choose all appropriate terms. 1) autotroph 2) heterotroph 3) phototroph 4) chemotroph An organism that obtains energy from light