Early Life on Earth

What was the fortuitous discovery made by a Dutch team while researching archaea?

• They found a new species of bacteria

• They discovered a hydrothermal vent

• They sequenced the genetic code of Asgard archaea

• They found evidence of complex life billions of years earlier

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NGSS.MS-LS3-1

During a science class, Emily and Dan were discussing which gases were present in the atmosphere and dissolved in the oceans where life began. Can you help them identify the correct gases?

• Oxygen, Nitrogen, Argon

• Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrogen

• Helium, Neon, Krypton

• Hydrogen, Helium, Methane

Answer explanation

Life likely began in an atmosphere rich in carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen, which provided essential conditions for early biochemical processes. The other options do not reflect the early Earth's atmospheric composition.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

During a science class, Woody asked which gas is used for protein synthesis in early Earth's atmosphere?

• Oxygen

• Nitrogen

• Carbon dioxide

• Methane

Answer explanation

Nitrogen is a key component of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. In early Earth's atmosphere, nitrogen was abundant and played a crucial role in the synthesis of proteins, making it the correct answer.

What is the first form of life on Earth?

• Humans

• Plants

• Fungi

• Protocells

True or false. We all evolved from a single cell in Earth's early oceans.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What had to exist on Earth before life could form?

• An atmosphere

• Water

• Land

• All of the above.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

What is pictured?

• Cyanobacteria

• Moon rocks

• A bug

• Single celled organisms

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NGSS.MS-LS1-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-2

What is the significance of stromatolites in understanding early life on Earth?

• They are the oldest known fossils of life on Earth

• They are evidence of the first multicellular organisms

• They indicate the presence of early land plants

• They show the first evidence of animal life

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which of the following experiments simulated early Earth conditions to test the origin of life?

• Miller-Urey experiment

• Hershey-Chase experiment

• Meselson-Stahl experiment

• Griffith's experiment

What role did hydrothermal vents play in the origin of life on Earth?

• They provided a source of energy and nutrients

• They were the first habitats for land animals

• They contributed to the formation of the ozone layer

• They were responsible for the extinction of early life forms

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1