Several scientific findings about the origin of life on Earth are listed.Which finding can be used to justify the claim that catalysts were needed for life to arise from nonlife?
A) Water was likely the solvent in which life arose, which would have made polymerization reactions that yielded water as a product unfavorable without assistance.
B) Fatty acids were among the small molecules that were synthesized in experiments designed to simulate conditions thought to have been likely on primitive Earth.
C) The atmosphere on primitive Earth likely contained nitrogen, hydrogen, methane, and water vapor but lacked oxygen.
D) Volcanoes added sulfur-containing gases to the atmosphere, including hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide gases.
E) Meteorites have been found that contain purines, pyrimidines, simple sugars, and several amino acids.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that water was likely the solvent in which life arose suggests that polymerization reactions, which are critical for the formation of macromolecules required for life, would have been unfavorable without assistance. Catalysts are necessary for such reactions to occur under such conditions.

Several Scientific Findings About the Origin of Life on Earth