Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2023
First exams 2025
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Origins of Cells
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Origins of Cells
Which of the following is not a piece of evidence that suggests that all life descended from a common ancestor called LUCA?
All living organisms have the same biochemistry e.g. lipids and carbohydrates etc.
All living organisms have the same DNA bases and genetic code
All living organisms have shared amino acids forming protein molecules
All living organisms can be infected by viruses
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What was a key limitation of the Miller-Urey experiment according to current understanding?
They used too much UV radiation in their experiment
The experiment did not run for long enough
The high levels of methane they used did not accurately reflect early Earth conditions
They only included methane, ammonia, hydrogen and water in the experiment
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What property of fatty acids made them likely candidates for early cell membranes?
Their amphipathic nature
Their ability to store genetic information
Their catalytic properties
Their ability to self-replicate
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Which of the following is a challenge of explaining the spontaneous origin of cells?
There are so many different theories of how the first cells originated that it is impossible to make sense of all the conflicting information.
It is impossible to know the conditions on early Earth and so it is impossible to replicate any of those conditions experimentally.
The current scientific equipment that exists is not able to withstand the temperature and pressure conditions of early Earth and so the correct conditions cannot be replicated experimentally.
Early cells did not fossilise well, making it difficult to know their exact nature or confirm hypotheses about their formation.
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All living organisms share the same core characteristics in order to be classified as living.
Relating to this, which of the following statements about viruses is correct?
Viruses are non-living because they are obligate parasites and rely on other organisms to survive.
Viruses are living because they are able to reproduce using metabolic pathways inside the host cell.
Viruses are non-living because they cannot move.
Viruses are living because they contain genetic information in the form of DNA or RNA.
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Why was UV radiation significant for the origin of carbon compounds on early Earth?
It interacted with ozone to form free oxygen in the atmosphere.
It provided energy for the formation of larger polymers from simpler molecules.
It allowed plants to carry out photosynthesis using the energy from the radiation which allows them to create carbon compounds.
It caused mutations in DNA which led to the diversification of early living organisms.
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