8.0Origin of Life and Prokaryotic Organisms

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the origin of life, biogenesis, prokaryotic organisms, and their characteristics.

What does the hypothesis of biogenesis suggest?

It suggests that life originated from nonliving chemicals through a series of stages.

What was the approximate age of Earth when it stabilized enough to support life?

About 3.9 billion years ago.

What is the significance of the Miller-Urey experiment?

It demonstrated that organic monomers can form under conditions simulating early Earth.

What are monomers and why are they important for life?

Monomers are small molecules like nucleotides and amino acids that serve as building blocks for polymers, which are essential for biological structures.

How did Earth's early atmosphere differ from today’s atmosphere?

It contained water vapor, nitrogen gases, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, hydrogen gas, and hydrogen sulfide, but little to no oxygen.

What is RNA's role in the origin of life according to one hypothesis?

RNA molecules may have been the first self-replicating molecules, leading to the emergence of life.

What did the first primitive cells likely consist of?

They likely consisted of self-replicating molecules surrounded by a lipid membrane.

What are methanogens?

Methanogens are archaea that thrive in anaerobic environments and produce methane as a metabolic byproduct.

What shapes can prokaryotic cells take?

Prokaryotic cells can be cocci (spherical), bacilli (rod-shaped), or spiral.

What reproduction method do many prokaryotes use?

Many prokaryotes reproduce by binary fission, which involves splitting a single cell into two identical cells.