BIOLOGY FOR LIFE
  • IB Biology I
  • IB Biology II
  • Syllabus
    • Core >
      • 1: Cell Biology >
        • 1.1: Introduction to Cells
        • 1.2: Ultrastructure of Cells
        • 1.3: Membrane Structure
        • 1.4: Membrane Transport
        • 1.5: The Origin of Cells
        • 1.6: Cell Division
      • 2: Molecular Biology >
        • 2.1: Molecules to Metabolism
        • 2.2: Water
        • 2.3: Carbohydrates and Lipids
        • 2.4: Proteins
        • 2.5: Enzymes
        • 2.6: DNA and RNA
        • 2.7: DNA Replication, Transcription and Translation
        • 2.8: Cell Respiration
        • 2.9: Photosynthesis
      • 3: Genetics >
        • 3.1: Genes
        • 3.2: Chromosomes
        • 3.3: Meiosis
        • 3.4: Inheritance
        • 3.5: Genetic Modification and Biotechnology
      • 4: Ecology >
        • 4.1: Species, Communities and Ecosystems
        • 4.2: Energy Flow
        • 4.3: Carbon Cycling
        • 4.4: Climate Change
      • 5: Evolution and Biodiversity >
        • 5.1: Evidence for Evolution
        • 5.2: Natural Selection
        • 5.3: Classification and Biodiversity
        • 5.4: Cladistics
      • 6: Human Physiology >
        • 6.1: Digestion and Absorption
        • 6.2: The Blood System
        • 6.3: Defense Against Infectious Disease
        • 6.4: Gas Exchange
        • 6.5: Neurons and Synapses
        • 6.6: Hormones, Homeostasis and Reproduction
    • Higher Level >
      • 7: Nucleic Acids >
        • 7.1: DNA Structure and Replication
        • 7.2: Transcription and Gene Expression
        • 7.3: Translation
      • 8: Metabolism, Cell Respiration & Photosynthesis >
        • 8.1: Metabolism
        • 8.2: Cell Respiration
        • 8.3: Photosynthesis
      • 9: Plant Biology >
        • 9.1: Transport in the Xylem of Plants
        • 9.2: Transport in the Phloem of Plants
        • 9.3: Growth in Plants
        • 9.4: Reproduction in Plants
      • 10: Genetics and Evolution >
        • 10.1: Meiosis
        • 10.2: Inheritance
        • 10.3: Gene Pools and Speciation
      • 11: Animal Physiology >
        • 11.1: Antibody Production and Vaccination
        • 11.2: Movement
        • 11.3: Kidney and Osmoregulation
        • 11.4: Sexual Reproduction
    • Options >
      • D: Human Physiology >
        • D.1: Human Nutrition
        • D.2: Digestion
        • D.3: Functions of the Liver
        • D.4: The Heart
        • D.5: Hormones and Metabolism
        • D.6: Transport of Respiratory Gases
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    • Extended Essay
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    • Statistics >
      • Mean
      • Standard Deviation
      • T-Test
      • ANOVA
      • Correlation
      • X2 Goodness of Fit
      • X2 Test for Independence
    • Graphing >
      • Graphing with Excel
      • Interpreting Error Bars
    • Error Analysis
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      • IB Bio 1 Semester 1
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  • Graduates

Topic 1.5:  The Origin of Cells

Essential Idea:  There is an unbroken chain of life from the first cells on Earth to all cells in organisms alive today.
At SHS, Topic 1.5 is taught in the following class unit(s):
  • ​Cell Theory (unit 1)
  • Prokaryotic Cells (unit 3)
  • Eukaryotic Cells (unit 4)

Statements & Objectives:

1.5.U1  Cells can only be formed by division of preexisting cells.
  • Discuss two implications of all cells being formed from preexisting cells.​​
1.5.U2  The first cells must have arisen from non-living material.
  • Outline the four processes needed for the spontaneous origin of cells on Earth.
  • Outline the experiments of Miller and Urey into the origin of organic compounds.
  • Define polymerization, monomer and polymer.
  • Outline two properties of RNA that would have allowed it to play a role in the origin of life.
1.5.U3  The origin of eukaryotic cells can be explained by the endosymbiotic theory.
  • State the endosymbiosis theory.
  • Outline the major events in the origin of eukaryotic cells.
  • Describe the evidence for the endosymbiotic theory.​
1.5.A1  Evidence from Pastuer’s experiments that spontaneous generation of cells and organisms does not now occur on Earth.
  • Define spontaneous generation.
  • Describe Pasteur’s experiments about spontaneous generation.      
  • Explain why Pasteur’s experiments did not support the idea of spontaneous generation. ​
1.5.NOS  Testing the general principles that underline the natural world- the principles that cells only come from pre-existing cells needs to be verified.
  • Explain historical thinking about spontaneous generation (what did people think and why did they think it?).
  • Define conformity bias and give an example of conformity bias in the historical study of life.
  • Outline the experiments of Redi and Spallanzani.
  • List reasons why biologists now universally accept that cells only come from preexisting cells.​
Picture

In the News:

  • The End of the RNA World Is Near, Biochemists Argue (2017-12-19)
  • ​The origin of life: labyrinths as crucibles of life (2015-01-27)
  • Ancient rocks show life could have flourished on Earth 3.2 billion years ago (2015-02-16)
  • Researchers may have solved origin-of-life conundrum (2015-03-16)
  • Origin-of-life puzzle cracked (2015-03-19)
  • Building blocks for 'RNA world' made from simple ingredients (2016-05-12)
  • Scientists take big step toward recreating primordial 'RNA world' of 4 billion years ago (2016-08-15)
  • World’s Oldest Fossils Found in Greenland (2016-08-31)
  • Protein-like structures from the primordial soup (2016-09-12)
  • On the origin of life: Studying how the first biomolecule self-replicated (2016-11-02)
  • Oldest evidence of life on land found in 3.48 billion-year-old Australian rocks (2017-05-09)
  • Chemists may be zeroing in on chemical reactions that sparked the first life (2017-05-19)
  • ​
  • ​Genetic Struggles Within Cells May Create New Species (2017-09-27)
  • ​"Just a Theory": 7 misused science words (2013-04-02)
  • 'Solar-powered' sea slugs can survive in the dark (2013-11-20)
  • Missing link microbes may help explain how single cells became us (2015-05-06)
  • On the origin of eukaryotes: When cells got complex (2016-02-03)
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe."  -  John Muir,   1911
  • IB Biology I
  • IB Biology II
  • Syllabus
    • Core >
      • 1: Cell Biology >
        • 1.1: Introduction to Cells
        • 1.2: Ultrastructure of Cells
        • 1.3: Membrane Structure
        • 1.4: Membrane Transport
        • 1.5: The Origin of Cells
        • 1.6: Cell Division
      • 2: Molecular Biology >
        • 2.1: Molecules to Metabolism
        • 2.2: Water
        • 2.3: Carbohydrates and Lipids
        • 2.4: Proteins
        • 2.5: Enzymes
        • 2.6: DNA and RNA
        • 2.7: DNA Replication, Transcription and Translation
        • 2.8: Cell Respiration
        • 2.9: Photosynthesis
      • 3: Genetics >
        • 3.1: Genes
        • 3.2: Chromosomes
        • 3.3: Meiosis
        • 3.4: Inheritance
        • 3.5: Genetic Modification and Biotechnology
      • 4: Ecology >
        • 4.1: Species, Communities and Ecosystems
        • 4.2: Energy Flow
        • 4.3: Carbon Cycling
        • 4.4: Climate Change
      • 5: Evolution and Biodiversity >
        • 5.1: Evidence for Evolution
        • 5.2: Natural Selection
        • 5.3: Classification and Biodiversity
        • 5.4: Cladistics
      • 6: Human Physiology >
        • 6.1: Digestion and Absorption
        • 6.2: The Blood System
        • 6.3: Defense Against Infectious Disease
        • 6.4: Gas Exchange
        • 6.5: Neurons and Synapses
        • 6.6: Hormones, Homeostasis and Reproduction
    • Higher Level >
      • 7: Nucleic Acids >
        • 7.1: DNA Structure and Replication
        • 7.2: Transcription and Gene Expression
        • 7.3: Translation
      • 8: Metabolism, Cell Respiration & Photosynthesis >
        • 8.1: Metabolism
        • 8.2: Cell Respiration
        • 8.3: Photosynthesis
      • 9: Plant Biology >
        • 9.1: Transport in the Xylem of Plants
        • 9.2: Transport in the Phloem of Plants
        • 9.3: Growth in Plants
        • 9.4: Reproduction in Plants
      • 10: Genetics and Evolution >
        • 10.1: Meiosis
        • 10.2: Inheritance
        • 10.3: Gene Pools and Speciation
      • 11: Animal Physiology >
        • 11.1: Antibody Production and Vaccination
        • 11.2: Movement
        • 11.3: Kidney and Osmoregulation
        • 11.4: Sexual Reproduction
    • Options >
      • D: Human Physiology >
        • D.1: Human Nutrition
        • D.2: Digestion
        • D.3: Functions of the Liver
        • D.4: The Heart
        • D.5: Hormones and Metabolism
        • D.6: Transport of Respiratory Gases
  • IB Requirements
    • Learner Profile
    • Group 4 Project
    • Extended Essay
    • External Exam
    • Internal Assessment >
      • Personal Engagement
      • Exploration
      • Analysis
      • Evaluation
      • Communication
  • Investigation Skills
    • Lab Safety
    • Microscopy
    • Lab Drawings
    • Data Tables
    • Measurement
    • Statistics >
      • Mean
      • Standard Deviation
      • T-Test
      • ANOVA
      • Correlation
      • X2 Goodness of Fit
      • X2 Test for Independence
    • Graphing >
      • Graphing with Excel
      • Interpreting Error Bars
    • Error Analysis
  • Course Info
    • Above & Beyond >
      • Biology Club
      • Pumpkin Carving
      • Scavenger Hunt
      • Science News
      • IB Bio Dance
      • Wood Duck Project
      • Invasive Crayfish Project
    • Assessment >
      • Class Grading
      • Daily Quizzes
      • WICC Assessment
      • Lab Practicals
    • Assessment Statements
    • Class Photos
    • Recommendations
    • Supplemental Reading >
      • IB Bio 1 Semester 1
      • IB Bio 1 Semester 2
      • IB Bio 2 Semester 1
      • IB Bio 2 Semester 2
  • About
    • Connect
    • Philosophy
    • Resume
    • Reflection
    • Site Feedback
    • Favorite Quotes
    • AEF Blog
  • Expeditions
    • Bahamas (2009)
    • Trinidad (2010)
    • Trinidad (2011)
    • Ecuador (2012)
    • Trinidad (2013)
    • Peru (2014)
    • Bahamas (2015)
    • Peru (2016)
    • Costa Rica (2017)
    • Costa Rica (2018)
  • Graduates
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