Which of the following is NOT a condition believed to have been present on early Earth, leading to the formation of organic molecules?

A. High levels of free oxygen

B. High concentrations of carbon dioxide

C. Presence of simple molecules like methane and ammonia

D. Frequent lightning storms

Why are viruses not considered living organisms?

A. They can replicate independently

B. They lack cellular structure

C. They can perform metabolic processes

D. They respond to their environment

Which of the following is NOT a challenge in explaining the spontaneous origin of cells?

A. Formation of simple organic molecules

B. Creation of a genetic code

C. Development of a metabolism

D. Instant formation of modern cells

What was the primary significance of the Miller-Urey experiment?

A. It demonstrated the spontaneous generation of life

B. It showed how DNA could be synthetically created

C. It simulated early Earth conditions and produced amino acids

D. It disproved the need for oxygen in the formation of organic molecules

How do scientists believe RNA molecules could have been significant in the origin of life?

A. They could store genetic information and catalyse chemical reactions

B. They could form lipid bilayers

C. They were the first forms of DNA

D. They could produce oxygen through photosynthesis

a) Discuss the environmental conditions on early Earth and their implications for the formation of carbon compounds. [4]

b) Evaluate the significance of the Miller–Urey experiment in our understanding of the origin of carbon compounds. [3]

a) Explain why viruses are considered non-living entities, distinguishing them from living cells. [3]

b) Describe the challenges associated with explaining the spontaneous origin of the first cells. [4]

a) Discuss the role of RNA as the presumed first genetic material and its functions that supported early life. [4]

b) Examine the evidence supporting the hypothesis that the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) evolved near hydrothermal vents. [3]

a) Analyse the role of environmental conditions on early Earth in the spontaneous formation of carbon compounds. [4]

b) Explain the process and significance of vesicle formation in the context of the origins of cells. [3]

c) Discuss the RNA world hypothesis and its implications for the evolution of early life forms. [4]

a) Evaluate the Miller–Urey experiment's contributions to our understanding of abiogenesis. [3]

b) Describe the properties of RNA that support its role as the first genetic material. [4]

c) Examine the concept of the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) and the evidence that supports its existence. [4]

What evidence supports the existence of a Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA)?

A. Identical DNA in all living organisms

B. Fossil records of the first organism

C. Universal genetic code and shared genes across organisms

D. Presence of the same species on different continents

Which method is NOT used to estimate the dates of the first living cells and the LUCA?

A. Radiometric dating

B. DNA sequencing

C. Fossil evidence

D. Observing organism behaviour

What evidence suggests that LUCA may have evolved near hydrothermal vents?

A. Discovery of the oldest fossils near vents

B. Presence of current diverse ecosystems near vents

C. Similarities in DNA between vent organisms and other life

D. All of the above

What is the primary reason scientists propose RNA as the first genetic material instead of DNA?

A. RNA is simpler than DNA

B. RNA can self-replicate and catalyse chemical reactions

C. RNA contains ribose sugar

D. RNA is more stable than DNA

Which of the following is NOT a requirement for the evolution of the first cells?

A. Catalysis

B. Self-replication of molecules

C. Ability to perform photosynthesis

D. Compartmentalization

a) Discuss why viruses are not considered living organisms and the characteristics that differentiate them from cells. [3]

b) Outline the main challenges in explaining the spontaneous origin of cells from non-living matter. [4]

c) Discuss the potential role of hydrothermal vents in the origin of life, including the conditions they offer and the evidence supporting this hypothesis. [4]

a) Explain the process of vesicle formation and why it is considered a critical step in the development of early cells. [3]

b) Describe the characteristics of RNA that suggest it was the first genetic material. [4]

c) Evaluate the evidence supporting the hypothesis that LUCA evolved near hydrothermal vents. [4]

a) Discuss the environmental conditions on early Earth and their role in the formation of organic molecules. [3]

b) Evaluate the significance of the Miller–Urey experiment in the context of abiogenesis. [4]

c) Explain the importance of compartmentalisation in the evolution of early cells and how this might have been achieved spontaneously. [3]

d) Discuss the hypothesis that RNA was the first genetic material and provide reasons for this assumption. [3]

a) Outline the challenges faced in explaining the spontaneous origin of cells. [3]

b) Describe the process of vesicle formation from fatty acids and discuss its relevance in the origin of cells. [4]

c) Analyse the evidence supporting the existence of a last universal common ancestor (LUCA). [4]

d) Discuss the potential advantages of RNA as the first genetic material over DNA. [2]

a) Explain the conditions necessary for the first cells to evolve, including catalysis and self-replication. [3]

b) Evaluate the Miller–Urey experiment's methodology and its implications for our understanding of the origin of life. [4]

c) Discuss the role of hydrothermal vents in the hypothesis of life's origin, including the conditions they provide. [3]

d) Compare the characteristics of RNA and DNA, discussing why RNA is considered to have been the first genetic material. [3]