1

• Clay minerals may have been used as templates for the synthesis of complex organic molecules from simple organic molecules & the assembly of these complex organic molecules into proto-organisms, particulary for their ability to replicate.
• O2 was produced by the first photosynthetic autotrophs on Earth.
• In the 1950's, amino acids were synthesized under simulated primitive Earth conditions in the lab by ________________________.

  A. Khorana & associates B. Fox & associates C. Miller &Urey D. both A. & B. E. all of these

• __________________ readily polymerize into protein-like molecules at moderate temperatures.

  A. DNA molecules B. sugars C. amino acids D. all of these E. none of these

• In the 1950's, __________________________ were synthesized under simulated primitive Earth conditions in the lab by Miller &Urey.
• __________________ may have been used as templates for the synthesis of complex organic molecules from simple organic molecules & the assembly of these complex organic molecules into proto-organisms, particulary for their ability to replicate.

2

• Anaerobic heterotrophic prokaryotes were probably the first organisms to evolve.
• Aerobic autotrophic prokaryotes were probably the first organisms to evolve.
• The second autotrophs to evolve were aerobic cyanobacteria.
• The first autotrophs to evolved were aerobic cyanobacteria.
• The first organisms on Earth were photosynthetic autotrophs/heterotrophic anaerobes/heterotrophic aerobes/autotrophic anaerobes/photosynthetic heterotrophs/photosynthetic aerobes.
• Heterotrophic anaerobes/Photosynthetic autotrophs/cyanobacteria did not/have produce/d the oxygen found in the Earth's atmosphere.
• Organisms that can synthesize food by fixing carbon are called heterotrophs.
• Most modern Heterotrophs are Aerobic Eukaryotes that metabolize pre-existing organic molecules by oxidation

  C6H12O6 + 6 O2 -> 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + energy)

• Prokaryotes have internal organelles & a membrane-bound nucleus with chromosomes.
• Eukaryotes lack internal organelles & a membrane-bound nucleus with chromosomes.
• Prokaryotes are thought to have developed from symbiotic relationships between previously-independent eukaryotes.
• Cyanobacteria produce free oxygen as a waste product of photosynthesis.
• The evolution of photosynthetic aerobic cyanobacteria had a profound effect on the composition of the Earth's atmosphere.
• The evolution of photosynthetic aerobic cyanobacteria had no effect on the composition of the Earth's atmosphere.
• The first organisms on Earth probably were __________________.

  A. photosynthetic aerobes B. photosynthetic anaerobes C. heterotrophic aerobes D. heterotrophic anaerobes E. none of these A. photosynthetic aerobic prokaryotes B. photosynthetic anaerobic eukaryotes C. heterotrophic anaerobic eukaryotes D. chemosynthe tic aerobic prokaryotes

• The first autotrophs on Earth were probably __________________.

  A. anaerobic B. aerobic C. prokaryotes D. both A. & C. E. both B. & C.

• The equation below describes the chemical reaction for photosynthesis that occurs in ______.

  6 CO2 + 6 H2O + energy -> C6H12O6 + 6 O2

  A. anaerobic fermenting bacteria B. aerobic cyanobacteria C. anaerobic methanogenic bacteria D. both A. & C. E. all of these

• The equation below describes the chemical reaction for oxidation of pre-existing organic molecules that occurs in _______.

  C6H12O6 + 6 O2 -> 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + energy

• (glucose)

  A. anaerobic fermenting bacteria B. aerobic cyanobacteria C. anaerobic methanogenic bacteria D. both A. & C. E. none of these

• An organism with internal organelles & a membrane-bounded nucleus with chromosomes is called a _____________________________________.
• Organisms that lack internal organelles & membrane-bounded nucleus with chromosomes are called __________________.
• Cyanobacteria produce ____________________ as a waste product of photosynthesis.

3

• Stromatolites occur only in the Precambrian.
• Stromatolites occur only in rocks of Precambrian age.
• Layered structures formed by photosynthetic cyanobacteria are called Banded Iron Formations.
• Late Proterozoic stromatolites were widespread.
• Late Proterozoic stromatolites were restricted to hypersaline environments.
• Stromatolites are formed by ___________________.

  A. primitive bacteria B. advanced bacteria C. cyanobacteria/blue-green algae D. green algae E. metazoans A. prokaryotic bacteria B. eukaryotic multicelled animals C. prokaryotic cyanobacteria D. all of these E. none of these A. metazoans B. planktonic algae C. advanced bacteria D. primitive bacteria E. cyanobacteria B. eukaryotic multicelled animals D. all of these E. none of these

• The oldest probable stromatolites are found ___________________.

  A. in the 3.5-3.3 by old Warrawoona Group B. in the 2.8 by old Fortescue Group C. in 3.8 by old rocks exposed in Greenland D. only in Early Proterozoic rocks E. onlyin Cenozoic rocks

• Stromatolites were VERY abundant during the ______________.

  A. Phanerozoic B. Late Proterozoic C. Middle Proterozoic D. Early Proterozoic E. Archean

• _______________________________ are guide fossils to the Late Proterozoic.
• _____________________ are layered structures formed by photosynthetic cyanobacteria.

4

• The oldest continental rocks (3.8 by old rocks of Greenland) contain evidence that life had already evolved by 3.8 by ago.
• The oldest rocks on Earth (3.8 by old rocks in Greenland) contain evidence that life had already evolved.
• Stromatolites and prokayotic bacteria & cyanobacteria are NOT the only fossils found in Archean & Early Proterozoic rocks.
• The only fossils found in Archean & Early Proterozoic rocks are stromatolites and prokayotic bacteria & cyanobacteria.
• Microfossils found in Archean rocks consist of ___________________.

  A. prokaryotic bacteria B. eukaryotic metazoans C. prokaryotic cyanobacteria D. both A. & C. E. all of these

• Microfossils found in the Archean Warrawoona and Fig Tree Groups consist of ___________.

  A. prokaryotic bacteria & cyanobacteria B. eukaryotic planktonic algae C. eukaryotic multicellular animals D. both A. & B. E. both B. & C.

• Microfossils found in EARLY PROTEROZOIC rocks consist of ___________________.

  A. prokaryotic bacteria & cyanobacteria B. eukaryotic planktonic algae C. eukaryotic multicellular algae D. both A. & B. E. both B. & C.

• Only _________ are found in the Early Proterozoic Gunflint Chert of Minnesota.

  A. bacteria B. eukaryotes C. multicelled animals D. both B. & C. E. all of these

5 The cysts of ________ are called ACRITARCHS.

A. stromatolites B. eukaryotic planktonic algae C. prokaryotic cyanobacteria D. eukaryotic multicellular algae E. both A. & B.

6

• The development of eukaryotes occurs after the accumulation of free oxygen in the atmosphere.
• Eukaryotic microfossils first occur in Middle Proterozoic rocks.
• Eukaryotes did not begin to evolve until free oxygen began to accumulate in the atmosphere.
• The pace of organic evolution did not change following the development of eukaryotes.
• Eukaryotic microfossils first occur in Late Proterozoic rocks.
• The first evidence of the development of eukaryotes occurs in the __________.

  A. Gunflint Chert B. Fig Tree Group C. Bitter Springs Formation D. all of these E. none of these

• The first evidence of the development of ________ occurs in the Bitter Springs Formation.

  A. stromatolites B. blue-green algae C. prokaryotes D. eukaryotes E. none of these

• The oldest reported occurrence of ___________ is from the Middle Proterozoic (1.4-1.2 by old) Beck Springs Dolomite of southern California.

  A. bacteria B. eukaryotes C. multicelled animals D. both B. & C. E. all of these

• The oldest reported occurrence of eukaryotes is from the ___________.

  A. Warrawoona Group (Archean) B. Fig Tree Group (Archean) C. Gunflint Chert (Early Proterozoic) D. Beck Springs Dolomite (Middle Proterozoic) E. all of these

• Eukaryotes did not begin to evolve until ____________ began to accumulate in the atmosphere.

7

• Matching: Match the items concerned with Precambrian life listed on the left with the items listed on the right with which they are most closely associated. Each item on the right will be used only once.
  • calcareous deposits formed by blue-green algae A. eukaryote
  • Pound Quartzite, Ediacara Hills B. stromatolites
  • Gunflint Chert C. first metazoans
  • type of cell characterized by a membrane-bounded D. amino acids
  • nucleus, organelles, and chromosomes E. 1.9 billion year old bacteria
  • essential protein component
• Matching: Match the items concerned with Precambrian life listed on the left with the items listed on the right with which they are most closely associated. Each item on the right will be used only once.
  • calcareous deposits formed by blue-green algae A. first metazoans
  • Pound Quartzite, Ediacara Hills B. stromatolites
  • Gunflint Chert C. first eukaryotes
  • Fig Tree Group D. 1.9 billion year old prokaryotes
  • Bitter Springs Formation E. 3.1 billion year old prokaryotes
• Matching: Match the formations and groups on the left with the organisms on the right that are found in that formation or group. Items on the right will be used only once.
  • Warrawoona Group (3.5-3.3 by old) A. prokaryotic primitive bacteria
  • Fig Tree Group (3.1 by old) B. prokaryotic primitive bacteria & unicellular cyanobacteria
  • Gunflint Chert (2.1-1.8 by old) C. prokaryotic advanced bacteria & filamentous cyanobacteria
  • Little Belt Mountains (1.4 by old) D. eukaryoticgreen algae
  • Beck Springs Dolomite (1.4 by old) E. metazoans
  • Bitter Springs Formation (0.9 by old)
  • Pound Quartzite (670-570 my old)
• Matching: Match the organism type on the left with the time period on the right during which that organism or event occurred. Items on the right may be used more than once, & not all items on the right will be used.
  • first undisputed occurrence of eukaryotes A. Archean only
  • Carbon spheres in greenstone belt rocks of Greenland B. Archean/Early Proterozoic
  • prokaryotic bacteria & cyanobacteria only C. Early Proterozoic only
  • first metazoans D. Middle Proterozoic
  • possible eukaryotic green algae E. Late Proterozoic
• Matching: Match the Cryptozoic biological events on the left with the time period on the right during which that event occurred. Items on the right will be used only once.
  • oldest reported eukaryotes A. Archean/Early Proterozoic
  • first multicelled animals evolved B. Middle Proterozoic
  • prokaryotic bacteria & cyanobacteria only C. Late Proterozoic
• Matching: Match the formations & groups on the left with the organism on the right that are found in & characterize that formation or group, and enter your choice on the computer answer sheet. Each item on the right will be used ONLY ONCE, but NOT ALL of the items on the right will be used.
  • Pound Quartzite (670-570 my old) A. advanced prokaryotic bacteria & cyanobacteria
  • Gunflint Chert (2.1-1.8 by old) B. primitive prokaryotic bacteria & cyanobacteria
  • Bitter Springs Formation (0.9 by old) C. first metazoans with hard shells (trilobites, brachiopods, snails)
  • D. first metazoans (jellyfish, soft corals, worms, primitive arthropods & echinoderms)
  • E. first undisputed eukaryotes

8

• Matching: The numbers listed on the left below correspond to the numbers in the "Biosphere" column in the diagram below. Match the numbers on the left with the Precambrian evolutionary event or rock units described on the right below that occurred during or corresponds to the time period designated by these numbers. Items on the right will be used only once.
• 1 A. Bitter Springs Formation (Australia) - first undisputed occurrence of eukaryotes
• 2 B. Carbon spheres in Archean rocks of Greenland
• 3 C. Gunflint Chert (Canada) - abundant advanced prokaryotic bacteria & cyanobacteria
• 4 D. Little Belt Mountains (Montana) - possible eukaryotic green algae
• 5 E. Pound Quartzite (Australia) - first metazoans
• 6 F. Warawoona Group & Fortescue Group (Australia), & Fig Tree Group, Pongola Supergroup & Bulawayo Group (south Africa) - primitive prokaryotic bacteria & cyanobacteria & stromatolites