The endosymbiotic theory proposes that mitochondria and chloroplasts originated from

Answer: Free-living prokaryotes engulfed by an ancestral eukaryote Their double membranes, own DNA, ribosomes, and binary fission all point to bacterial origin.

The "RNA world" hypothesis posits that

Answer: RNA was the first genetic material, capable of both information storage and catalysis (ribozymes), preceding DNA and proteins RNA's dual role explains how genetic and catalytic functions could coexist in early life before the DNA/protein/RNA division of labor.

The Miller-Urey experiment showed that

Answer: Simple organic molecules (like amino acids) can form from inorganic precursors under early-Earth-like conditions The 1953 experiment used a sparked atmosphere of CH₄, NH₃, H₂, H₂O and produced amino acids — supporting prebiotic chemistry origins of life.

AP Biology · Topic 7.13

Origin of Life on Earth Practice

Part of Natural Selection.(EVO-1.M)

Practice questions

Want a predicted score for the whole AP BIO exam? Take the 20-question diagnostic and Lumi will plan the rest.

Take diagnosticarrow_forward Practice all 7.13

Sample questions

3 of 3 — sign in to practice the rest with adaptive difficulty and mastery tracking.

Sample 1difficulty 3/5
$The endosymbiotic theory proposes that mitochondria and chloroplasts originated from$
- A
  $Self-assembling membranes formed by a primitive eukaryote$
- B
  $Free-living prokaryotes engulfed by an ancestral eukaryote$
  check_circle
- C
  $Inverted cell-membrane invaginations within an ancestral eukaryote$
- D
  $Viral particles permanently incorporated into an ancestral eukaryote$
Why
$Their double membranes, own DNA, ribosomes, and binary fission all point to bacterial origin.$
View full solution & statsarrow_forward
Sample 2difficulty 3/5
$The "RNA world" hypothesis posits that$
- A
  $RNA was the first genetic material, capable of both information storage and catalysis (ribozymes), preceding DNA and proteins$
  check_circle
- B
  $Proteins were the first self-replicating molecules and only later transferred information to nucleic acid carriers$
- C
  $DNA evolved before RNA and originally served both as catalyst and as the only template for early replication$
- D
  $Lipid membranes encoded the first genetic information before any nucleic acid catalysts had appeared on Earth$
Why
$RNA's dual role explains how genetic and catalytic functions could coexist in early life before the DNA/protein/RNA division of labor.$
View full solution & statsarrow_forward
Sample 3difficulty 3/5
$The Miller-Urey experiment showed that$
- A
  $Simple organic molecules (like amino acids) can form from inorganic precursors under early-Earth-like conditions$
  check_circle
- B
  $Photosynthesis arose first because oxygen was abundant on the primitive Earth long before biological molecules$
- C
  $Fully functional living cells can be assembled directly from a sterile mixture of inorganic gases and water$
- D
  $DNA strands form spontaneously from atmospheric methane in the absence of any nucleotides or template molecules$
Why
$The 1953 experiment used a sparked atmosphere of CH₄, NH₃, H₂, H₂O and produced amino acids — supporting prebiotic chemistry origins of life.$
View full solution & statsarrow_forward

Predict my AP scorearrow_forward