Select the features that made protobionts possible precursors of living cells.
A) A boundary separating the internal contents of the protobiont from the external environment
B) Polymers inside the protobiont contained information.
C) Polymers inside the protobiont had catalytic functions.
D) Capability of self-replication
E) Presence of organelles

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Protobionts are considered precursors of living cells because they possess four crucial features. (A) Protobionts have a boundary that separates their internal contents from the external environment, allowing for the regulation of internal conditions. (B) Polymers inside protobionts, such as RNA or DNA, contain genetic information that can be passed on to new generations. (C) Polymers inside protobionts also have catalytic functions, which means they can facilitate chemical reactions necessary for life. (D) Protobionts can self-replicate, which is essential for the propagation of life. However, (E) the presence of organelles is not necessary for protobionts, as they are considered to be very basic and do not possess the complex cellular structures found in living cells.

Select the Features That Made Protobionts Possible Precursors of Living