The Origins of Life

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on the origins of life and significant experiments.

The Oparin-Haldane Hypothesis was proposed by and .

Oparin and Haldane.

According to the Oparin-Haldane Hypothesis, primordial Earth had a strongly __ atmosphere.

reducing.

The Miller-Urey Experiment was designed to recreate conditions of early Earth proposed by and .

Oparin and Haldane.

The Miller-Urey experiment simulated a primordial atmosphere that contained gases such as __, __, and __.

NH3, CH4, H2.

Approximately __ of carbon was found in the form of organic molecules after one week of the Miller-Urey experiment.

15%.

The Miller-Urey Experiment showed that organic molecules could form _ without biological enzymes.

abiotically.

Many scientists hypothesize that early Earth may have had a __ atmosphere consisting of CO2, N2, CO, and H2S.

neutral.

Organic molecules might have formed near __ vents on the ocean floor.

hydrothermal.

Alkaline hydrothermal vents are characterized by moderate temperatures between and degrees Celsius.

30 and 90.

Some organic compounds may have an extra-terrestrial origin, as many were found to exist in outer space, including and .

amino acids, nucleic acids.