Suppose that scientists succeed in creating experimental conditions that generate living cells from nonliving matter.Which statement best expresses how this achievement will affect thinking about the history of life on Earth?
A) The results will prove that life arose on Earth in a similar way, because it is so difficult to find just the right conditions to recreate the process in a lab.
B) The results will demonstrate that life could have arisen on Earth in a similar way, because we may never know what actual conditions were present on primitive Earth.
C) The results will suggest that life probably arose on Earth in a similar way, because scientists finally succeeded in reproducing the process in a lab.
D) The results will indicate that life could not have arisen on Earth in a similar way, because experiments in labs can never recreate exact conditions in the real world.
E) The results will indicate that life could not have arisen on Earth in a similar way, because there are too many variables and unknowns that make it impossible to test them all.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Even if scientists are successful in creating living cells from nonliving matter in a lab, it does not necessarily mean that the same conditions existed on primitive Earth. Therefore, the results will demonstrate that life could have arisen on Earth in a similar way, because we may never know what actual conditions were present on primitive Earth. This does not prove that life did arise in this way, but rather suggests that it is a possibility. Therefore, option B is the best choice. Options A, C, D, and E are mostly incorrect or irrelevant.

Suppose That Scientists Succeed in Creating Experimental Conditions That Generate