Question 1

What was Miller and Urey trying to replicate in their experiment?

Accepted Answer

Miller and Urey were trying to replicate the conditions of early Earth in order to investigate the possibility of organic molecule formation, which could have been a crucial step in the emergence of life on this planet.

Question 2

Match between columns
                        Premises: carries the genetic material of a cell
a long spiral molecule coded with information within the nucleus of a cell
a segment of chromosomes that controls a certain function within a cell
errors or damage made to the DNA molecule
the building blocks of proteins
compounds for structure and function of an organism
the backbone element of all living things
regulators of chemical reactions within a cell
a carrier of coded information to various location within the cell
variations over time for an organism's survival

Accepted Answer

The Answer of mutation and RNA and amino acids and is...

Question 3

Why can't we send a space mission to a star system outside of our own?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why can't we send a space mission...

Question 4

Why do astronomers narrow their search to the "habitable zone" of other star systems?

Accepted Answer

The habitable zone is the range of distances from a star where conditions are suitable for liquid water to exist on the surface of a planet. Liquid water is essential for life as we know it, so astronomers focus their search for extraterrestrial life on these habitable zones.

Question 5

If we have the technology to transmit messages, then why can't we "carry on a conversation" with an alien civilization?

Accepted Answer

The answer of If we have the technology to transmit...

Question 6

What period of Earth's geologic history saw a dramatic increase in life?

Accepted Answer

The Cambrian period, which occurred approximately 540 million years ago, saw the rapid diversification of life on Earth, known as the Cambrian explosion. During this time, most major animal phyla appeared in the fossil record for the first time.

Question 7

In addition to serving as the basic structural molecule for a cell, proteins can also be __________.

Accepted Answer

Proteins can also act as enzymes, which catalyze biochemical reactions within the cell.

Question 8

Can there be life on Mars? Is there proof that life existed on Mars? Defend your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Can there be life on Mars? Is...

Question 9

Which telescope did astronomers use in 1974 to send an anticoded message to globular cluster M13?

Accepted Answer

The message was sent using the Arecibo radio telescope in 1974.

Question 10

Why is it difficult to find fossils representative of the time that life began on Earth?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is it difficult to find fossils...

Question 11

In all living things on Earth, the chemical reactions making, breaking, and combining carbon chains take place in _______________ within the cell of living organisms.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In all living things on Earth, the...

Question 12

Why couldn't life have originated on any of the Jovian planets?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why couldn't life have originated on any...

Question 13

The first cells must have been simple, single-celled organisms similar to modern _______________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The first cells must have been simple,...

Question 14

Which describes the direct change in genetic information of a cell?

Accepted Answer

Mutation refers to a direct change in the genetic information of a cell, which can be caused by a variety of factors such as errors in DNA replication or exposure to environmental factors such as radiation or chemicals. Chromosomes, evolution, natural selection, and heredity all play a role in genetics, but do not directly refer to changes in genetic information within a single cell.

Question 15

What do the radio pulses within the anticoded message sent in 1974 represent?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What do the radio pulses within the...

Question 16

Figure 25-1
Examine the accompanying figure  (Figure 25-1) . Which wavelength range is representative of the noise from Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

The answer of  Figure 25-1
Examine the accompanying figure  (Figure...

Question 17

As Earth evolved with life, an oxygen abundance of only 0.1 percent would have created a(n) _______________, protecting organisms from the Sun's ultraviolet radiation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of As Earth evolved with life, an oxygen...

Question 18

Figure 25-1
Examine the accompanying figure (Figure 25-1) . Which portion of the radio window astronomers use to search for extraterrestrial communication?

Accepted Answer

The answer of  Figure 25-1
Examine the accompanying figure (Figure...

Question 19

Genes are organized into long coiled chains called _______________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Genes are organized into long coiled chains...

Question 20

The chemical recipes of life are stored within each cell as information in _______________ molecules that resemble a ladder with rungs, composed of chemical bases.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The chemical recipes of life are stored...

Quiz 17: Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds