TXST DR. VARGAS BIO 1321.001 - EXAM 2
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
2026 EDITION
How was the earth formed? - ANS a supernova happened and the shock waves condensed a
cloud of dust and other particles to create a star--our sun. ---> the sun then created a
gravitational pull, keeping the cloud in orbit as it condensed the cloud of dust into asteroids and
then planets.
Characteristics of Early Earth - ANS - no atmosphere
- no ozone=extremely high UV rays
- HIGH amounts of methane, ammonia, water, & hydrogen
- a lot of meteorites
- constant volcanic eruptions & electrical storms (lightning)
prebiotic simulation - ANS - experiment to mimic early earth
- mixed gases present in early earth then added UV light, heat, or an electrical charge
('lightning')
---> in these conditions, organic molecules form in a few days
organic molecules - ANS carbon-based molecules (building blocks of life)
@COPYRIGHT 2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 1
, Hypothesis for the Beginning of Life - ANS simple organic molecules combined into complex
molecules, which combined to make the earliest, most simple cells
Panspermia - ANS a theory that life did not originate on Earth but arrived in the form of
bacterial spores or viruses from an extraterrestrial source on meteorites
prokaryotes - ANS - first living organisms
- primitive bacteria
- arose in oceans
- lived without oxygen
- survived on organic molecules for energy
- eventually used the abundant sunlight for energy (photosynthesis)
- 2 domains: bacteria & archaea
photosynthesis - ANS - using light energy (sun) to create chemical energy
- sunlight=constant & abundant, so no competition
oxygen - ANS - product of photosynthesis
- early photosynthetic lifeforms created the atmosphere by providing oxygen
aerobic metabolism - ANS - metabolism that can proceed only in the presence of oxygen.
- could harvest more food
eukaryotes - ANS organisms made up of one or more cells that have a nucleus and
membrane-bound organelles
multicellular organisms - ANS - organisms composed of many cells (Ex. tissue, humans, etc.)
- cells can specialize (root, stem, photosynthetic, etc.)
@COPYRIGHT 2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 2
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
2026 EDITION
How was the earth formed? - ANS a supernova happened and the shock waves condensed a
cloud of dust and other particles to create a star--our sun. ---> the sun then created a
gravitational pull, keeping the cloud in orbit as it condensed the cloud of dust into asteroids and
then planets.
Characteristics of Early Earth - ANS - no atmosphere
- no ozone=extremely high UV rays
- HIGH amounts of methane, ammonia, water, & hydrogen
- a lot of meteorites
- constant volcanic eruptions & electrical storms (lightning)
prebiotic simulation - ANS - experiment to mimic early earth
- mixed gases present in early earth then added UV light, heat, or an electrical charge
('lightning')
---> in these conditions, organic molecules form in a few days
organic molecules - ANS carbon-based molecules (building blocks of life)
@COPYRIGHT 2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 1
, Hypothesis for the Beginning of Life - ANS simple organic molecules combined into complex
molecules, which combined to make the earliest, most simple cells
Panspermia - ANS a theory that life did not originate on Earth but arrived in the form of
bacterial spores or viruses from an extraterrestrial source on meteorites
prokaryotes - ANS - first living organisms
- primitive bacteria
- arose in oceans
- lived without oxygen
- survived on organic molecules for energy
- eventually used the abundant sunlight for energy (photosynthesis)
- 2 domains: bacteria & archaea
photosynthesis - ANS - using light energy (sun) to create chemical energy
- sunlight=constant & abundant, so no competition
oxygen - ANS - product of photosynthesis
- early photosynthetic lifeforms created the atmosphere by providing oxygen
aerobic metabolism - ANS - metabolism that can proceed only in the presence of oxygen.
- could harvest more food
eukaryotes - ANS organisms made up of one or more cells that have a nucleus and
membrane-bound organelles
multicellular organisms - ANS - organisms composed of many cells (Ex. tissue, humans, etc.)
- cells can specialize (root, stem, photosynthetic, etc.)
@COPYRIGHT 2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 2
