A2.1- Origin of Cells

Pre-Biotic

This describes something that came before the emergence of life

Organic Compounds

Carbon-containing molecules excluding oxides and carbonates

Spontaneous Generation

The discredited theory that living things can come from nonliving matter such as mud or rotting meat

LUCA

The most recent common ancestor for all current living organisms on Earth

Domains

The highest level of classification. There are three: bacteria, archaea, and eukarya

Eubacteria

A domain of single-celled prokaryotes with a peptidoglycan cell wall

Archaea

A domain of single-celled prokaryotes without a peptidoglycan cell wall

Eukarya

A domain of eukaryotes with membrane-bound nuclei

Evolution

The process of a population's traits slowly changing over the course of generations

Amphipathic

This describes a molecule that has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions

Hydrophilic

This describes something that is polar and readily interacts with water

Hydrophobic

This describes something that is nonpolar and does not readily interact with water

Vesicle

Special "bubbles" surrounded by a membrane

Ribozyme

RNA molecules capable of acting as enzymes to catalyze reactions

Hydrothermal Vent

Extremely hot openings in the sea floor which expel water rich in organic compounds

Thermophiles

Microorganisms which thrive at extremely high temperatures