TUTORIAL SHEET 6
1. Summaries the early history of the Earth and the beginnings of life by
numbering the following events in sequence. The first event has been done for
you.
__3___ A. Formation of the seas
__6___ B. Loss of Earth’s original hydrogen (H2) atmosphere
__2__ C. Formation of Earth
1 D. The “Big Bang” – formation of the universe
___5__ E. O2 from photosynthetic prokaryotes produces aerobic atmosphere
___7__ F. Origin of eukaryotes
___4__ G. Origin of life – first prokaryotes
2. What gases did the early atmosphere consist of?
l Hydrogen gas
l Water
l Methane
l Nitrogen
l Carbon dioxide
3. Explain the existence of oxygen gas on the early earth.
The existence of the oxygen gas came about when the first origin of life prokaryotes
photosynthesized which produced oxygen and thus resulted the early earth to have oxygen
in the atmoshpere.
4. According to Stanley Miller and Urey, what would have been the probable
energy sources on early earth?
The energy source on the early earth would have been ultraviolet radiation and lightening
discharge.
5. What was the hypothesis that Stanley Miller was testing with his experiments?
The hypothesis was that they proposed that the condition on the early earth would have
generated a collection of organic molecules that in turn would have given rise to living
organisms.
6. Explain Stanley Miller’s experiment.
In 1953, scientist Stanley Miller performed an experiment that may explain what occurred
on primitive Earth billions of years ago. He sent an electrical charge through a flask of a
chemical solution of methane, ammonia, hydrogen and water. This created organic
compounds including amino acids.
The following setup was used to conduct the
Experiment:
i. Boiling water adds water vapour to the artifical atmoshpere
ii. An electric spark simulates as lightening stom
iii. Enegry from the spark power reaction among molecules thought to be present in
the early atmoshpere
iv. When the hot gases in the spark chamber are cooled water vapour condenses and
any soluble molecules present are dissolved
v. Sample of the condensed water is tested and found that organic molecules are
present
Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/MUexperiment.png/330px-MUexperiment.png
7. Explain the formation of first polymers from the monomers on the early earth.
The formation of the first polymer from the monmer on the early earth was when the
monomer got on hot clay surface or on hot rock surface that dehydrated the monomers
and resulted in the formation of polymers.
8. Briefly describe the kinds of evidence for evolution.
i. Fossil records - gives an ides how the organisms existed before and it also testifies
that the organisms have evolved.
ii. Comparative anatomy - comparision of body structures in different species, it
shows how organisms have evolved from a common ancester.
iii. Comparative embryology - study of structures that appear during the development
of different organimsms it aslo shows that organisms has evolved from a common
ancester.
iv. Molecular biology - compares genes and protein of different organisms.
9. Differentiate between natural and artificial selection. Support your answer with
examples.
Natural selection Artifical selection
l It is a natural process conducted l It is an artifical process conducted
by nature on a vast scale all over by man on a limited sacle
the world l Results are achived in a short period
l Results are achieved over a long of time
period of time l Traits selected for improvement are
l Traits selected for evolution are beneficail to man
benefical to the speices l Example: cattles that can produce
l Example: selection of long more milk
necked giraffes
