No lecture notes will be posted for my first two lectures because my notes were simplified versions of excellent lecture notes posted here by Bruce Walsh, University of Arizona.
New 3/17/03: See also review questions (not assigned) and especially helpful links related to the hand-out of Zimmer's Chapter 5 here
1. How do conditions on Earth today compare with those that likely existed when life originated?
2. How does Earth compare with Mars and Venus in terms of ongoing processes involving water and carbon dioxide (see Fig. 1.3)?
3. What are likely sources for organic molecules on early Earth?
4. What is required to be in the "universal minimal cell" according to scientist, Lynn Margulis (see Fig. 1.4)?
5. Why is phosphorus an important constituent of life?
6. What four conditions are necessary if life is to evolve from non-life? How were these conditions likely met on early Earth?
7. What evidence is there that amino acids could be formed spontaneously on early Earth? How and where are chains of amino acids formed abiotically (without life)?
8. Why are clay minerals important?
9. What are liposomes?
10. What are the most likely habitats where life might have evolved?
11. What is the relationship between mutations and natural selection?
12. How do the following organisms differ in their metabolism?: 1) fermentors; 2) methanogens; 3) autotrophs utilizing sunlight; 4) autotrophs utilizing other sources
13. What are arguments for or against ancient life on Mars based on the meteorite, ALH 84001.
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