Origins of Earth and Life Study Guide

Exam Date: Wednesday/Thursday, March 12/13Name:Per.

This exam will be worth approximately 50 points and will consist of multiple choice, matching and short answer questions. Extra credit will be given to students who turn in a handwritten study guide. Only 100% complete study guides will be accepted. You may prepare one side of a3 x 5 notecard of your own handwritten notes to use on the test.

Earth

  • Identify and describe the four events in the formation of earth.
  • Identify and describe how Earth acquired our oceans and our oxygen rich atmosphere.
  • Define and describe the major erasofearth (Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic). What major events occurred to land and life in each?
  • Draw a scaled timeline with the following events included: “Formation of Earth”, “First Single-Celled Organism”, “First Oxygen Producers”, “First Multi-Celled Organism”, Earliest Modern Humans Appear”. Use your Geologic and Biologic Scaled Time-Line activity to help you.

Life:

  • Define spontaneous generation and give an example. Also be familiar with early experiments disproving spontaneous generation.
  • Summarize the experiment that created coacervates. Be sure to note whether it was in support of or against the theory of spontaneous generation.
  • Describe the first true cells.
  • Explain howand why photosynthesis evolved in early life forms. Compare and contrast early and modern photosynthesis (basically be able to tell the story of photosynthesis from past to present)

Fossils:

  • Describe the various ways in which living organisms can be preserved as fossils (original remains, altered hard parts, molds/casts, trace fossils) and give examples.
  • Explain the importance of an index fossil.
  • Explain relative age and identify techniques that can be used to determine the relative age of a fossil.
  • Explain absolute age and identify techniques that can be used to determine absolute age of a fossil.
  • Complete sample half-life calculations and be able to read and analyze a half-life graph.
  • Explain the relationship between radioactive decay, half life, and radioactive dating.

Evolution:

  • DescribeCharles Darwin and explain how his voyage on the Beagle influenced his thoughts about life on Earth.
  • Define evolution.
  • Be able to describe the different pieces of evidence of evolution and how they support the idea of evolution. Be able to give an example of each.
  • Define natural selection using the terms variation, fitness, and adaptation.
  • Describe examples of natural selection in action.