Biology Life on Earth with Physiology - Chapter 18 pt 1 Review

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary from Chapter 18 of the Biology Life on Earth with Physiology, focusing on the origin of life and the development of early organisms.

EPAS1

A Tibetan gene that helps people live at high altitudes.

Spontaneous Generation

the false idea that life comes from nonliving stuff.

Oparin-Haldane Hypothesis

early Earth had no oxygen, and chemicals formed the first organic molecules.

Prebiotic Evolution

The chemical version of 'survival of the fittest' before life existed.

Amino Acids

the building blocks of proteins, small organic molecules that are essential for life.

RNA World Hypothesis

The theory that RNA was the first self-replicating molecule and played a crucial role in the origin of life.

Endosymbiotic Hypothesis

The theory that certain organelles in eukaryotic cells, like mitochondria and chloroplasts, originated from engulfed bacteria.

Ribozyme

an RNA molecule that acts like a protein enzyme, catalyzing biochemical reactions

Anaerobic Prokaryotes

early microbes that lived without oxygen.

Photosynthesis

ancient microbes used sunlight with H₂S(hydrogen sulfide) before switching to water.

Mass Extinction

a rapid loss of many species at once.

Eukaryotic Cells

complex cells that evolved from predatory bacteria.

Protocell

a simple early cell-like structure with enclosed RNA.