
Concept explainers
Describe the roles that montmorillonite clay and vesicles may have played in the origin of life.

To explain: The roles of montmorillonite clay and vesicles in the origin of life.
Concept introduction: Our earth is formed before 4.6 billion years ago from the sun with continuous bombardment of huge rocks and ices. This massive bombardment results in the generation of heat, which prevents the formation of sea and lakes by vaporizing the available water molecules on the surface of the earth. The earth bombardment by solar nebula creates the origin of life.
Explanation of Solution
The role of montmorillonite clay in the origin of life:
The montmorillonite clay is formed by aqueous weathering of volcanic ash. It catalyzes the formation of RNA nucleotides. Thus, the clay minerals play a major role in chemical evolution as well as the origin of life on the earth.
The role of vesicles in the origin of life:
The vesicle formation is catalyzed by the clay montmorillonite, which is the key factor for formation of protocells. Protocells are fluid-filled compartments covered by a membrane-like appearance, which exhibits the reproduction and metabolic activities and maintenance of the chemical environment inside the protocells.
Thus, accumulation of organic molecules increases the vesicle formation. The formed vesicles can reproduce, and compartmentalization of RNA molecules leads to the origin of life.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 25 Solutions
Campbell Biology (11th Edition)
- Molecular Biology Question You are working to characterize a novel protein in mice. Analysis shows that high levels of the primary transcript that codes for this protein are found in tissue from the brain, muscle, liver, and pancreas. However, an antibody that recognizes the C-terminal portion of the protein indicates that the protein is present in brain, muscle, and liver, but not in the pancreas. What is the most likely explanation for this result?arrow_forwardMolecular Biology Explain/discuss how “slow stop” and “quick/fast stop” mutants wereused to identify different protein involved in DNA replication in E. coli.arrow_forwardMolecular Biology Question A gene that codes for a protein was removed from a eukaryotic cell and inserted into a prokaryotic cell. Although the gene was successfully transcribed and translated, it produced a different protein than it produced in the eukaryotic cell. What is the most likely explanation?arrow_forward
- Molecular Biology LIST three characteristics of origins of replicationarrow_forwardMolecular Biology Question Please help. Thank you For E coli DNA polymerase III, give the structure and function of the b-clamp sub-complex. Describe how the structure of this sub-complex is important for it’s function.arrow_forwardMolecular Biology LIST three characteristics of DNA Polymerasesarrow_forward
- Molecular Biology RNA polymerase core enzyme structure contains what subunits? To form holo enzyme, sigma factor is added to core. What is the name of the structure formed? Give the detailed structure of sigma factor and the function of eachdomain. Please help. Thank youarrow_forwardMolecular Biology You have a single bacterial cell whose DNA is labelled with radioactiveC14. After 5 rounds of cell division, how may cells will contain radioactive DNA? Please help. Thank youarrow_forward1. Explain the structure and properties of atoms and chemical bonds (especially how they relate to DNA and proteins). Also add some pictures.arrow_forward
- 1. In the Sentinel Cell DNA integrity is preserved through nanoscopic helicase-coordinated repair, while lipids in the membrane are fortified to resist environmental mutagens. also provide pictures for this question.arrow_forwardExplain the structure and properties of atoms and chemical bonds (especially how they relate to DNA and proteins). Also add some pictures.arrow_forwardIn the Sentinel Cell DNA integrity is preserved through nanoscopic helicase-coordinated repair, while lipids in the membrane are fortified to resist environmental mutagens. also provide pictures for this question.arrow_forward
- Biology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (Mi...BiologyISBN:9781305117396Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa StarrPublisher:Cengage LearningBiology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305389892Author:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage Learning
- Concepts of BiologyBiologyISBN:9781938168116Author:Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James WisePublisher:OpenStax CollegeHuman Biology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305112100Author:Cecie Starr, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage LearningBiology 2eBiologyISBN:9781947172517Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann ClarkPublisher:OpenStax





