Earth and Life Science

Special Creation

The theory that all living organisms were created by God.

Panspermia

The theory that the seeds of life exist all over the Universe and can be propagated through space from one location to another.

Spontaneous Origin

The theory that life may have evolved from inanimate/nonliving matter.

Oparin-Haldane Theory

A hypothesis proposed by Oparin and Haldane that suggests life arose gradually from inorganic molecules, with "building blocks" like amino acids forming first.

Cyanobacteria

A phylum of gram-negative bacteria that obtain energy via photosynthesis and played a role in creating the atmosphere by producing oxygen.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy, producing oxygen and sugar as byproducts.

Biomolecules

Carbohydrates, nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, which are the building blocks of cells and living organisms.

Eukaryotic cells

Complex, membrane-bound cells with a defined nucleus and specialized organelles, found in multicellular organisms.

Prokaryotic cells

Simple, single-celled organisms without a membrane-bound nucleus or specialized organelles, often found in bacteria and archaea.

Manifestation of Life

The observable characteristics and behaviors exhibited by living organisms.

Bioenergetics

The branch of biochemistry that focuses on how cells transform energy.

Reactants

The substances present at the beginning of a chemical reaction that undergo a chemical change to form products.

Light Dependent Reactions

The reactions in photosynthesis that require light and produce oxygen as the primary product.

Calvin Cycle/Dark Reaction

The reactions in photosynthesis that do not require light but rely on the products of the light-dependent reactions to produce glucose.

ATP

Adenosine Triphosphate, the energy currency used by cells