T13. Brief History of Life/Intro to Evolution

What was the main goal of the Miller-Urey experiment?

To simulate early Earth’s atmosphere and test whether organic molecules could form under prebiotic conditions.

What was the major finding of the Miller-Urey experiment?

Complex organic molecules (including amino acids) formed, showing life’s building blocks can be formed without living organisms.

What properties of RNA are important for the origin of life?

RNA can store genetic information and self-replicate. 

What property of phospholipids helped in the origin of cells?

Phospholipids self-assemble into bilayers, creating compartments that separate internal and external environments. 

What does “descent with modification” mean?

Populations inherit traits from ancestors (“descent”) and change over generations (“modification”).

What makes evolution the “unifying theory of biology”?

It explains shared ancestry, similarities in anatomy and genetics, and connects all biological fields through the idea of life changing over time.

Name three major lines of evidence for evolution. 

1. Fossils

2. Comparative anatomy (homologous species)

3. Molecular biology (DNA sequence similarity)

Give one way evolutionary theory benefits society.

Helps understand antibiotic resistance, improve agriculture, or guide conservation decisions.