Earth and Life Science

Quarter 2 – Module 1:
Evolving Concept of Life Based
on Emerging Pieces of Evidence

CO_Q2_ELS SHS
Module 1
 What is It

The universe is about 4.6 billion years old. Life on earth, probably began only
between 3.5 and 4.0 billion years ago. Evidences from fossil records show the
emergence of the different life forms. The common ancestor of all life was prokaryotic.
Since, oxygen was scarce on the early Earth, so the ancestral cell must also have
been an anaerobic. There are some challenges encountered in searching for the
evidence of early life. Cells are microscopic and most have no parts to fossilize. The
tectonic plate movements have destroyed nearly all rocks older than about 4 billion
years, and most of the younger rocks have been heated or undergone processes that
destroy the traces of biological material. At present, the oldest cell microfossils
(microscopic fossils) are filaments from 3.5 billion-year-old rocks in Western
Australia. The filaments resemble chains of modern photosynthetic bacteria and the
rocks in which they occur are the remains of ancient stromatolites.

The researchers look for biomarkers specific to eukaryotes. It is a substance that

occurs only or predominantly in cells of a specific type. Eukaryotes are organisms
having true nucleus. The DNA is enclosed within the nucleus whereas DNA of most
prokaryotes lies enclosed in the cell’s cytoplasm. The first eukaryotes were protists.

For life to evolve from simple single-celled organisms to many millions of species of
prokaryotic species to simple eukaryotic species to all the protists, fungi, plants, and
animals, took some time. The first life forms were very basic and this then allowed
for the evolution of more complex life forms. Eukaryotic cells evolved from prokaryotic
cells. The evolution of life is brought about the changes in the environment which
are linked to changes in climate and geology. These Earth’s environmental changes
made the Earth’s environment more suitable for a wider variety of life forms.

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 Assessment

Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. Oxygen was scarce during the early development of Earth. By this situation,
what kind of organism first existed?
a. aerobic organism
b. anaerobic organism
c. mammal
d. protist

2. Which of the following statements is NOT true on the evolution of multicellular

organisms?
a. The process of continuous specialization brought more complex
organisms.
b. The prokaryotic organisms that formed multicellular aggregates were
like the cells of Cyanobacteria.
c. They are believed to have evolved from single-celled prokaryotic
organisms.
d. They are formed from other multicellular colonial aggregates through
cells specialization.

3. Why do you think the emergence of plants and animals came later than simple
living organisms?
a. Their existence is not that important on Earth.
b. Their size is too big that it takes longer time for development.
c. The cell structures of these multicellular organisms are more complex.
d. These organisms are composed of many nucleus compared to
unicellular.

4. Which statement is incorrect about living organisms?

a. The earliest forms of life existed were the prokaryotes.
b. The eukaryotic organisms evolved from the unicellular prokaryotic.
c. Organisms did not change despite of the changes in the environment.
d. Evolution of oxygen-producing organisms allowed the increase in the
atmospheric oxygen.

5. Which of the following are in the correct order?

a. eukaryotic cell, photosynthesis, prokaryotic cell, organic molecules
b. eukaryotic cell, prokaryotic cell, organic molecules, photosynthesis
c. organic molecules, eukaryotic cell, photosynthesis, prokaryotic cell
d. organic molecules, prokaryotic cell, photosynthesis, eukaryotic cell

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6. What is the evidence for a last universal common ancestor among life on
Earth?
a. All look the same.
b. They have similar synthesis pattern.
c. All are classified as aerobic organisms.
d. They share similar molecular features.

7. What unique substance do researchers look after in their study of eukaryotes?

a. biomarkers
b. fossils
c. mitochondria
d. stromatolites

8. Which of the following can be considered as a fossil?

a. a billion-year old rock
b. a billion-year old piece of amber
c. a billion-year old amber with a primitive insect inside
d. all of the choices are correct

9. Mainly the fossils are found on sedimentary rocks. What type of rocks are
stromatolites?
a. igneous
b. metamorphic
c. sedimentary
d. trilobites

10. Which of the following is NOT true about the evidence that fossils provide?
a. All fossils gathered contain intact DNA that can be sequenced.
b. Fossil ages can often be determined by testing nearby rocks.
c. Fossil organisms often share physical similarities with living
organisms.
d. Some fossil organisms are transitional forms between groups of
organisms.

11. It was stated that the organisms are evolving. The evolution can be due to
environmental changes. More so, the conservation of their traits depends
mainly on how they will survive. In this regard, humans alter the natural world
bringing harmful consequences from their activity. Which among the following
refers to the alteration brought by humans to the natural environment?
a. environmental issues
b. ecosystem conflict
c. environmental topics
d. human intervention

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12. What is the significance of studying the molecular evidence present among
living organisms?
a. It will benefit the economy of the world.
b. It will give idea for the scientist which to clone.
c. It will then serve as the basis of what to study.
d. It will allow the classification of living organisms.

13. Over the past several decades, natural selection has caused populations of
Staphylococcus aureus to evolve resistance to most antibiotics. What do you
think would be the significance of being knowledgeable about the history of
this organism towards antibiotics?
a. It will just give them background about the microorganism.
b. It will just give them idea of increasing the frequency of the organisms.
c. It will give an idea of continuing the use of antibiotic against
Staphylococcus aureus.
d. It will give an idea for the medical team to discontinue the use of
particular antibiotic resistant to that microorganism.

14. The study of history of life is indeed significant. As part of searching for the
fossils of previous organisms, stromatolite played a significant role. What is
true about stromatolite?
a. It is found on eukaryotes.
b. It is produced by endosymbiosis.
c. It is formed during volcanic eruptions.
d. It consists of layered bacteria and sediment.

15. The following statements are challenges for the researchers in finding and
identifying signs of early cells. Which is NOT part of the group?
a. Cells are microscopic and most have no parts to fossilize
b. Materials and testing laboratories are not available.
c. Slightly younger rocks have been heated up and undergone other
processes
d. Tectonic plate movements have destroyed nearly all rocks older than
about 4 billion years.

Additional Activities

1. It was stated that researchers faced challenges looking for fossils of the
earliest-life forms. These fossils served as evidence of the origin of life. Based
on your knowledge of tectonic plates, why few samples of early rocks remain?

2. Create an interactive infographic that will show the history of earth.

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