AP Biology 7.12.A: Evidence for the Origin of Life

Practise AP Biology 7.12.A questions by evaluating geological, fossil, experimental and RNA-world evidence for models of life’s origin.

Exam points

use Earth history, geological evidence and earliest fossils to establish a plausible range for the origin of life
explain the RNA world assumptions of replication, base-pairing and catalytic RNA
interpret early-Earth experiments and testable questions about organic molecule formation

[Maximum number: 1]

A researcher hypothesizes that RNA molecules
were present in the most recent common ancestor
of all living organisms. Which of the following
scientific questions would best test the
hypothesis?

Is it possible to produce an RNA polymer in
a laboratory setting?

How many distinct functions can a particular
RNA molecule perform in a cell?

How many different monomers of RNA are
found in a eukaryotic cell?

Do any known organisms function entirely
without RNA?

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7.12.A—Describe the scientific evidence that supports models of the origin of life on Earth question 1