Astro Biolog I A

Introduction and History of Astrobiology
10/10 preguntas corregir

Excelente!
1.
Astrobiology is concerned with understanding which of the following areas of research?
The possibility of life beyond Earth
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Astrobiology is concerned with understanding how life is distributed across the
Universe and if it exists on other planetary bodies.
The evolution of life on the Earth
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Astrobiology investigates how life has evolved over the history of the Earth.
The origin of life
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Astrobiology is concerned with understanding how life arose.
The study of life in extreme environments and the limits of life on the Earth
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Astrobiologists study life in extreme environments to understand the limits of life on the
Earth.
2.
Life on Earth is not disconnected from the astronomical environment. Which natural event MOST
clearly demonstrates how to understand life on the Earth we must have a grasp of space sciences?
Volcanic eruptions
Asteroid and comet impacts
Bien hecho!
Asteroid and comets can have profound impacts on life on Earth. As the left over remnants of Solar
System formation, they clearly show how life on Earth is linked to the space environment
Earthquakes
Hurricanes
3.
Which renaissance scientist speculated on the possibility of other Earth-like planets?
Percival Lowell
Leonardo Da Vinci
William Herschel
Giordano Bruno
Bien hecho!
In his 1584 book, On the Infinite Universe and Worlds, Giordano Bruno speculated that other earth-like
planets might orbit other stars
4.
Which enlightenment scientist observed the circular impact craters on the Moon and considered that
they might have been built by a civilization?
Galileo Galilei
William Herschel
Bien hecho!
Herschel said of lunar craters: By reflecting a little on this subject I am almost convinced that those
numberless small Circuses we see on the moon are the works of the Lunarians and may be called their
Towns.
Giordano Bruno
Christian Huygens
5.
The first experiment to study whether the building blocks of life could be produced in simulated
ancient atmospheres were conducted by who?
Edmund Hilary
Stanley Miller and Harold Urey
Bien hecho!
They conducted experiments in 1952 using a spark discharge apparatus
Carl Sagan
Percival Lowell
6.
Where do scientists look to try to find evidence for life on the early Earth?
In ancient ice
In ancient amber
In ancient salts
In the ancient rock record
Bien hecho!
The earliest evidence for life is sought in rocks by looking for fossils and chemical signatures
7.
The first spacecraft to directly look for evidence of life on Mars were called:
The Huygens spacecraft
The Mars spacecraft
The Venera spacecraft
The Viking Landers
Bien hecho!
These landers were launched by NASA to Mars in the mid-1970s and had numerous experiments to
search for evidence of life
8.
Which was the first spacecraft to send back images directly from the surface of Venus?
The VenusSat spacecraft
The Soviet Venera spacecraft
Bien hecho!
The Venera spacecraft were sent to Venus in the 1970s and 1980s
The Voyager spacecraft
The Mariner spacecraft
9.
Which moon has been found to have evidence of complex organic chemistry occurring on its surface
and in its atmosphere?
The Earth's Moon
Enceladus
Titan, a moon of Saturn
Bien hecho!
Titan has complex organic chemistry, with hydrocarbons in the atmosphere and seas and lakes of liquid
methane
Europa
10.
The first attempt to send a message to extraterrestrial intelligences using a radio telescope was
attempted from
Parkes Observatory, Australia
Lovell telescope, UK
Green Bank telescope, USA
The Arecibo Dish Observatory, Puerto Rico
Bien hecho!
In 1974 a message was sent from the Arecibo observatory to globular cluster M13. It was a binary
message with an image of DNA, a human and other information
Life: The Basics
Excelente!
1.
Tick the characteristics that generally, when taken together, are thought to be characteristics of life
Ability to swim
Bien hecho!
Not all life forms can swim (e.g. trees)
Ability to reproduce
Bien hecho!
Most life forms reproduce, but alone it is not a sole defining characteristic of life because non-
biological things (e.g. computer programmes) can reproduce.
Ability to grow
Bien hecho!
Most life forms grow, but alone it is not a sole defining characteristic of life because non-biological
things (e.g. crystals) can grow.
Ability to move
Bien hecho!
Some life forms can move, but not all (e.g. some bacteria)
Ability to evolve
Bien hecho!
Life is thought to have the ability to evolve and it has been used as a definition for life
2.
What is the name given to the process by which life was thought (in medieval times) to emerge from
the non-living?
Spontaneous generation
Bien hecho!
This is correct. This is the original term used until the nineteenth century and before to describe the
putative emergence of life from non-living material
Life emergence
Immediate generation
Spontaneous emergence
3.
What is the name of the microbiologist who finally disproved spontaneous generation in the nineteenth
century?
Frederick Twort
Alexander Fleming
Louis Pasteur
Bien hecho!
In 1859 Louis Pasteur responded to a challenge from the French Academy of Sciences to disprove
spontaneous generation. He did so with his 'swan neck' flask experiment
Sergei Winogradsky
4.
Which Italian physician devised an elegant experiment to show that maggots did not form in meat by
spontaneous generation?
Francis Bacon
Nicolaus Copernicus
Francesco Redi
Bien hecho!
Redi was a seventeenth century physician who devised an experiment using different gauzes and
coverings to show that maggots did not just emerge in meat
Leonardo da Vinci
5.
Which of the following objects would be described as 'natural kind' by philosophers?
Water
Bien hecho!
Water has very distinct physical properties which can be defined exactly. Philosophers would describe
this is a natural kind
Sulfur
Bien hecho!
Sulfur has very distinct physical properties which can be defined exactly. Philosophers would describe
A chair
Bien hecho!
A chair is a human definition and has no exactly defined physical properties that can be listed and for
which there are no exceptions. Philosophers would generally refer to this is a 'non-natural' kind
Gold
Bien hecho!
Gold has very distinct physical properties which can be defined exactly. Philosophers would describe
6.
Which of the following elements are considered essential for any life?
Hydrogen
Bien hecho!
Hydrogen is found as an elemental component of many molecules and it is essential in all life
Calcium
Bien hecho!
Calcium is used by some organisms (for example in bones), but it is not considered essential for all life
Oxygen
Bien hecho!
Oxygen is found as an elemental component of many molecules and it is essential in all life
Iron
Bien hecho!
Iron is a basic requirement for much of life, for example in proteins in bacteria and red blood cells in
mammals, but it is not absolutely required by all life (some bacteria can replace it with manganese).
Nitrogen
Bien hecho!
Nitrogen is found as an elemental component of many molecules and it is essential in all life
Tungsten
Bien hecho!
Some anaerobic microbes that live at high temperatures need tungsten but it is not a fundamental
requirement for life
7.
What is the basic structure of a protein?
The name for an amino acid
The name of a collection of any molecules
A string of sugars
A string of amino acids
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Proteins are made up of a chain of amino acids
8.
Which of the following statements is correct?
Large molecules are always made of the same atoms
Elements are assembled into atoms which are then assembled into molecules and then larger molecules
Molecules are put together to make atoms which are then used to make larger molecules
Elements are assembled to make molecules which are assembled to make larger molecules in cells
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Atoms of elements are put together to make molecules, which themselves are put
together into even larger molecules
9.
Life is said to be 'carbon-based' because
Its molecules use carbon as a backbone to their assembly
Bien hecho!
This is correct. The wide use of carbon as the basic atomic backbone of molecules mean that we call
life 'carbon-based'
It uses carbon as an energy source
Carbon is sometimes used in its molecules
Carbon is used to make membranes
10.
All life requires water to:
Get protection from radiation
Carry out its biochemical reactions
Bien hecho!
This is correct. A liquid is needed to carry out chemistry
Seek protection from predators in
Swim in
11.
One of the basic units of living things is:
Neurons
The cell
Bien hecho!
This is correct. The basic structure of organisms is the cell.
Organs
Limbs
12.
Cells are made up of the basic structural components:
Chloroplasts
Bien hecho!
Chloroplasts are components of some bacterial and all plant cells and they are involved in
photosynthesis. They are not essential for all cells.
Information storage system
Bien hecho!
This is correct. In most living things this is DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid, which is used to store
information.
System for generating energy
Bien hecho!
Cells require a way to make energy
Membranes
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Membranes are required to stop cell contents from dispersing into the environment
Skin
Bien hecho!
Skin is a type of cell, not a building block of cells
13.
The cell membrane is made up of molecules called phospholipids. They form membranes because:
They tend to form long chains
The molecules irreversibly bind together into a sheet
The molecules are sticky
Part of the molecule is attracted to water and part of it is repelled by water. In water the molecules
spontenously assemble into a two layered structure - the membrane
Bien hecho!
This is correct. The molecules have a water 'liking' part (hydrophilic) and a water 'hating' part
(hydrophobic). The hydrophobic ends join together and result in the formation of a membrane
14.
DNA is made up of a string of base pairs composed of the following four molecules which code for the
information in it (nucleotides):
Guanine, cytosine, glycine and lysine
guanine, cytosine, uracil and adenine
glucose, sucrose, fructose, galactose
Guanine, cytosine, adenine, thymine
Bien hecho!
These are the four 'letters' of the DNA code
15.
DNA has four nucleotides that make up the genetic code. In the DNA double helix which are the right
combinations of 'base pairs' that form the rungs of the ladder?
Guanine always binds to cytosine and vice versa, adenine always binds to thymine and vice versa
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
Guanine always binds to guanine, cytosine to cytosine, adenine to adenine and thymine to thymine
guanine always binds to thymine and vice versa and cytosine always binds to adenine and vice versa
guanine always binds to adenine and vice versa and cytosine to thymine and vice versa
16.
When the DNA double helix is divided in two, two complete new double helices can be formed
because:
Special molecules remember what was in the other strand
DNA automatically forms the same code every time it is produced
DNA is complex and we don't yet understand fully how it divides and replicates
Each nucleotide (guanine, cytosine, adenine, thymine) in the DNA code binds to only one other
nucleotide so that the second DNA strand can be synthesised
Bien hecho!
Guanine only binds to cytosine and vice versa and adenine only binds to thymine and vice versa so that
any nucleotide can be used to bind the complementary one.
17.
A chemolithotroph is a type of organism that:
Only uses iron to grow
Only grows in rocks
Grows only in hydrothermal vents
Uses molecules, such as sulfur compounds, to gain energy
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Chemolithotrophs include many microbes that live in hydrothermal vents on the
seafloor and other extreme environemnts
18.
A phototroph requires the following to gather energy from the environment:
Ultraviolet radiation
Potassium
High temperatures
Light
Bien hecho!
A phototroph is a photosynthetic organism that uses light as a source of energy
19.
Cells need energy for what purposes?
To reproduce
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Life needs energy to produce the molecules that allows a cell to replicate itself
To repair damage
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Life needs energy to be able to carry out cell repair.
To grow
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Life needs energy to produce the molecules to grow
20.
The following organisms are examples of phototrophs:
Green algae
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Algae can appear green because they have chlorophyll which is used to gather light
energy
Yeast
Bien hecho!
Yeast uses organics to grow. They do not do photosynthesise
Cyanobacteria
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Cyanobacteria (used to be called 'blue-green algae') are photosynthetic organisms
Trees
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Trees carry out photosynthesis
Origins of Life
Excelente!
1.
The 'Urey-Miller experiment' was an experiment to:
Study how life can be broken down
Test whether the building blocks of life could be generated from basic chemical molecules
Bien hecho!
This is correct. The experiment studied how building blocks such as amino acids could be produced
from a spark discharge through an artificial early Earth atmosphere.
Study the formation of multicellular organisms
Investigate spontaneous generation
2.
In the Urey-Miller experiment which gases were included in the 'artificial' early Earth atmosphere?
Methane
Bien hecho!
Methane was thought to be an abundant component of the early Earth atmosphere. Now we think the
atmosphere was less 'reducing' than Urey and Miller assumed
Cyanide
Bien hecho!
This is an incorrect answer
Oxygen
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. Oxygen was not thought to constitute a large proportion, if any, of the early Earth
atmosphere
Hydrogen
Bien hecho!
Hydrogen was thought to be an abundant component of the early Earth atmosphere. Now we think the
Ammonia
Bien hecho!
Ammonia was thought to be an abundant component of the early Earth atmosphere. Now we think the
3.
Meteorites have been shown to contain which building blocks of life?
Amino acids
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Carbonaceous meteorites have been shown to contain amino acids, including many that
are not found in biological systems
DNA
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. The components of DNA - nucleotides - have been reported in meteorites, but full
length DNA has not.
Sugars
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Carbonaceous meteorites have been shown to contain sugars
4.
A self-replicating piece of ribonucleic acid is called what?
A nucleicdivider
A catazyme
A ribotransformer
A ribozyme
Bien hecho!
This is correct
5.
A world in which early replicators are dominated by ribonucleic acid (RNA) has been called the:
The RiboWorld
The Lost World
The Nucleo World
The RNA World
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
6.
What remarkable property has been observed in lipids extracted from meteorites?
They spontaneously combust and release building blocks of life
They can spontaneously gather in liquid water and form membranes
Bien hecho!
This is correct. The lipids can forms small vesicles.
They spontaneously form energy gathering systems
They spontaneously form DNA in liquid water
7.
The central conundrum of understanding the emergence of life from chemistry is currently thought to
revolve around the question of whether:
RNA or protein came first or even emerged at the same time
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
RNA emerged from amino acids
Protein came from RNA
Proteins alone can form whole cells
8.
Which ingredients are thought to be necessary as a plausible location for the origin of life?
An energy source
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Energy is needed to make molecules
A means of concentrating molecules
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Otherwise molecules will dissipate into the environment
An environment conducive to complex molecules
Bien hecho!
This is correct or else it would not be possible to assemble complex cellular structures
9.
Who described the location for the emergence of life as a 'warm little pond'?
Joseph Hooker
Leonardo Da Vinci
Louis Pasteur
Charles Darwin
Bien hecho!
This is correct. He did this in a 1871 letter to his friend Joseph Hooker
10.
Deep sea hydrothermal vents have been described as a plausible location for the origin of life. What
features of life might support this idea?
All microbes grow better when they are near vents
All microbes contain minerals that are found in hydrothermal vents
Some proteins contain iron and sulfur which is reminiscent of the mineral environment around vents
Bien hecho!
Molecules from the RNA world have been found near vents
11.
Which features of impact craters might make them plausible locations for the origin of life?
Impact craters host hydrothermal systems which would provide a long-lived source of heat in large
structures
Bien hecho!
This is correct
Impact craters would have different rates of cooling depending on their size which might be conducive
to lots of 'experiments' in the origin of life
Bien hecho!
This is correct
Impacts occur in volcanic rocks, which are thought to be the best places for the origin of life
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. Asteroid and comet impacts are indiscriminate and can occur in any rock type.
Impact craters have distinct geologies which might be conducive to lots of 'experiments' in the origin of
life
Bien hecho!
This is correct
12.
What feature of beaches has been thought to be favourable for an origin of life?
They are the only known environment with plenty of water
Periodic desiccation provides a mechanism for concentrating molecules
Bien hecho!
This is correct. As the tides go in and out molecular synthesis in rocks would be concentrated by the
rock drying out.
Beaches are close to hydrothermal vents
Amino acids are always more common on beaches
13.
One unusual suggestion for a location for an origin of life has been in bubbles released from the surface
of the oceans. What feature of the environment is thought, in this scheme, to be a factor in the
formation of molecules for early life?
Ultraviolet radiation from the Sun bombarded the bubbles and caused the formation of complex
molecules
Bien hecho!
This is correct. It is thought that the bubbles would be released from the ocean surface and exposed to
UV radiation from the Sun.
Intense pressures on the bubbles made molecules
Cold temperatures caused the formation of complex molecules
Highly acidic conditions in the bubbles made complex molecules
14.
The first cells to emerge on Earth are referred to generically as
The First Cells To Emerge (FCTE)
The Last Life Ancestor (LLA)
The Lucky Ones (TLO)
The Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA)
Bien hecho!
This is correct
The Earliest Slimy Goo (TESG)
The Most Primitive Cells on Earth (MPCO)
15.
Which features of carbon make it one of the best elements for assembling life?
It always exclusively forms bonds with hydrogen
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. Hydrogen is one element it can form bonds with, but it does not always have to be
hydrogen
It can bind with diverse elements such as nitrogen, hydrogen and phosphorus with roughly the same
energy
Bien hecho!
This is correct. This means that carbon can switch elements (it is quite versatile) without much energy
being put in or having to be removed
It forms quite stable complex molecules
Bien hecho!
This is correct. At temperatures experienced on the earth, carbon forms quite stable complex molecules
Bonds with carbon never break, making it very stable
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. carbon is always making and breaking bonds - this is essential for making new
molecules. If carbon never broke bonds with other elements it would soon become irreversibly locked
up in compounds
16.
Silicon has been proposed as an alternative to carbon as an elemental backbone for life. One of its
possible disadvantages is likely to be:
It never forms bonds with essential elements such as phosphorus and nitrogen
It never forms bonds with carbon
It is always a gas
This it forms very stable compounds with oxygen
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Silicon oxygen bonds are very stable and result in the formation of silicate rocks and
quartz. On planets with even small amounts of oxygen a lot of the silicon will become locked up in
rocks.
17.
Based on our current knowledge of life, select the correct statements out of the choices below.
Neon is unlikely to be a good choice as an elemental building block for life because it is very inactive
Bien hecho!
This is correct
Boron is unlikely to be a good choice as an elemental building block for life because it forms a limited
numbers of compounds with other atoms
Bien hecho!
This is correct
Magnesium is unlikely to be a good choice as an elemental building block for life because it is difficult
to form a variety of stable compounds with other atoms
Bien hecho!
This is correct
Neon is unlikely to be a good choice as an elemental building block for life because it is far too reactive
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. Neon is a 'noble gas' and it very inert (unreactive).
Silicon is unlikely to be a good choice as an elemental building block for life because it forms only 5 to
10 different chemical compounds
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. Silicon can actually form a very wide variety of compounds. One of its major
problems is that it forms very stable compounds such as silicates (rocks) with oxygen
Magnesium is unlikely to be a good choice as an elemental building block for life because it always
combusts
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. Magnesium can form many compounds that do not easily combust, but it has a
limited range of compounds it can form
18.
Why does life need a liquid to exist?
It is needed to swim in
It is needed to absorb heat
It is needed for storage of molecules
A liquid is needed in which to do chemical reactions.
Bien hecho!
This is correct
19.
Which features of water are thought to make it one of the best candidates as a solvent for life?
It dissolves many substances
Bien hecho!
This is correct. This means that it can act as a solvent for many substances.
It has a wide temperature range
Bien hecho!
This is correct. This means that it will remain liquid over a wide variety of planetary conditions (at
least on a planet like the Earth)
It is abundant
Bien hecho!
This is certainly useful for life, but it is not a characteristic of liquid water itself as a solvent.
It is transparent
Bien hecho!
This property is true for water in the visible part of the spectrum (and partly in the ultraviolet and
infrared regions) but it is not a required for the properties as a good solvent
20.
Which of the following has been proposed as an alternative solvent to liquid water for carbon-based
life?
Ammonia
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Although it has a lower temperature range at which it is liquid than water it can dissolve
many substances and has other physical characteristics that make it useful as a potential solvent
Sulfur
Concentrated sulfuric acid
Neon
Life on the Early Earth
Excelente!
1.
When the gas cloud from which a solar system forms collapses into a disc, what do we call the bright
object in the centre?
planet
protostar
Bien hecho!
A protostar is what we call the young star before it has begun to produce energy through nuclear fusion
disc
star
2.
What is the energy generating process in stars?
nuclear fission
combustion
nuclear fusion
Bien hecho!
Nuclear fusion occurs when two or more atomic nuclei combine to form a new type of nuclei. Energy
from this type of reaction is what fuels the sun.
dissolution
3.
What do we call the disc of material which orbits around a new star from which planets form?
Solar system
Outer planets
Protoplanetary disc
Bien hecho!
Inner planets
4.
Do rocky planets form closer or further away from the star than gaseous planets?
Closer
Bien hecho!
It is suggested that the solar wind was stronger when the sun was younger. When this wind started up it
would blow away light gaseous elements like hydrogen and helium away from the inner solar system.
The wind would be less strong at the orbit of the outer planets and the gases would not be expelled past
this. The gravity of the planets would allow them to mop up these elements.
Further away
5.
What age are the rocks of the Isua region, some of the oldest rocks preserved on Earth?
2 billion years old
3.5 - 4 billion years old
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
4.6 billion years old
540 million years old
6.
What evidence is seen in the Isua rocks which indicate water was present when they were laid down?
sandstones
Bien hecho!
Sandstones can be lain down by the erosion and subsequent deposition of rock by water bodies such as
rivers.
pillow lavas
Bien hecho!
Pillow lavas form when volcanic eruption occur under water.
shells
Bien hecho!
Life at this time was all microbial. Shells did not evolve until over 3 billion years later.
limestones
Bien hecho!
Today limestones form in shallow marine settings
7.
Which of these gases are thought to have assisted in keeping the Earth's temperature above freezing
when the sun was not burning as brightly as today?
nitrogen
Bien hecho!
Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere both now and in the early history of the Earth. It
does not affect temperature or climate.
methane
Bien hecho!
Methane is a greenhouse gas which means its presence in the atmosphere helps to trap heat.
oxygen
Bien hecho!
Oxygen does not help retain heat in the atmosphere.
carbon dioxide
Bien hecho!
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas which means its presence in the atmosphere helps to trap heat.
8.
Which of these were hazards for life on the early Earth?
high UV radiation
Bien hecho!
Because there was no ozone layer on the early Earth more UV radiation could pass through the
atmosphere
asteroid and comet impacts
Bien hecho!
Asteroid and comet impacts were more common early in the history of the Earth
forest fires
Bien hecho!
Trees did not develop until long after the period we discuss therefore there could be no forest fires.
freezing temperatures
Bien hecho!
Periodic glaciations did occur early in the history of the Earth but the early Earth was not generally
characterised by extreme cold
9.
What evidence do we have that the 'Late Heavy Bombardment' occurred?
Many similarly aged impact craters on the Earth
A mass extinction event
Many similarly aged impact craters on the moon
Bien hecho!
Because the moon is not tectonically active it has recorded the history of impacts in the vicinity of the
Earth. A large number of impacts at a given time on the moon is likely to correlate with increased
impacts on the Earth.
A gap in the rock record.
10.
What percentage of Earth's history is not preserved in the rocks?
11%
Bien hecho!
The rock record stretches back to about 4 billion years ago. The earth formed around 4.56 billion years
ago.
4%
25%
1%
11.
What is the oldest fossil evidence we have for life on Earth?
2 billion years old
Bien hecho!
The oldest reported microfossils are from stromatolites dated at around 3.5 billion years old.
12.
In what environment do stromatolites form today?
Deep ocean
Rivers
Shallow marine
Bien hecho!
Stromatolites are laminated mounds of sediment and syanobacterial mats. they form today in shallow
marine settings.
Hydrothermal vents
13.
Which stable form of carbon will life preferentially use?
Carbon 14
Carbon 12
Bien hecho!
Carbon 12 is one of two stable forms of carbon found in nature. It is preferentially used by life because
it is lighter than carbon 13.
Carbon 11
Carbon 13
14.
Which of these are problems with the evidence for the earliest life?
They have never been published
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect
Observed features also explained by abiogenic processes
Bien hecho!
Geological settings uncertain or disputed
Bien hecho!
Rocks are usually heavily metamorphosed
Bien hecho!
15.
Which organisms do the microfossils from the stromatolites in Western Australia most closely
resemble?
fish
cyanobacteria
Bien hecho!
worms
soft-bodied animals
16.
What is phylogenetics?
A species of organism
The study of the evolutionary relationships between groups of organisms
Bien hecho!
The study of life in extreme environments
A period of geological time
17.
What is the name given to the organism which is proposed to be at the base of the tree of life from
which all of the species we see today evolved?
Eukaryote
Slime mould
Last Common Ancestor
Bien hecho!
Bacteria
18.
Which of these organisms are prokaryotes?
microsporidia
Bien hecho!
This is eukaryotic - it is a type of parasite
green filamentous bacteria
Bien hecho!
Bacteria are prokaryotes
fungi
Bien hecho!
Fungi are eukaryotes
cyanobacteria
Bien hecho!
Bacteria are prokaryotes (they have no cell nucleus)
19.
Which of these are two proposed alternatives to a tree of life?
String of life
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect
Circle of life
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect
A ring of life
Bien hecho!
This is correct
A web of life
Bien hecho!
This is correct
20.
Which type of organism is not a Eukaryote?
slime molds
plants
Proteobacteria
Bien hecho!
mammals
Life Through Time

Excelente!
1.
Which of these are typical adaptations seen in thermophiles?
Thermostable proteins and enzymes
Bien hecho!
High temperatures can cause biomolecules to break up. Microbes which can tolerate very high
temperatures need special heat-tolerant proteins and enzymes to allow them to survival at such high
temperatures
tolerance of osmotic stress
Bien hecho!
Osmotic stress is associated with extremely salty environments
cell dormancy
Bien hecho!
Cell dormancy is an adaptation more typical of dry environments.
modified cell membrane composition
Bien hecho!
For cells to function there is an optimum amount of fluidity in the cell membrane. High temperatures
can increase the fluidity of the membrane. Many thermophiles alter the chemical structure of the
molecules which form the membrane to make it more stable at higher temperatures.
2.
An organism which grows at which temperature is considered to be 'psychrophilic'?
110 degrees Celsius
50-80 degrees Celsius
30 degrees Celsius
Less than 15 degrees Celsius
Bien hecho!
Psycrophillic means cold loving. These organisms have optimum growth temperatures below 15
degrees Celsius.
3.
Which of these extremes would you expect to encounter in space?
freezing temperatures
Bien hecho!
With no atmosphere to moderate the temperature, space is very cold and the temperatures can
significantly fluctuate.
lack of oxygen
Bien hecho!
The lack of oxygen in space is a big problem for aerobic organisms but for the many anaerobic species
this is not a problem. Therefore, some organisms could survive in space without oxygen if they can
cope with the other extremes.
high levels of radiation
Bien hecho!
High levels of radiation are the most deadly extreme encountered in space. On Earth we are protected
from space radiation from the ozone shield.
Low gravity
Bien hecho!
In space there is less gravity acting on cells. This can cause the DNA in the cells to mutate and
sometimes can even benefit the organisms making them grow more quicjly or be more resistant to
antibiotics.
4.
What name is given to organisms which can tolerate multiple extremes at once?
Piezophile
Polyextremophile
Bien hecho!
Halophile
Xerophile
5.
What can we gain from studying life in extreme environments?
Understanding of the boundaries of life in the Universe
Bien hecho!
We can use the limits of life on Earth to guide our search for life on other planets where conditions may
overlap with some of those found on the Earth.
Understanding of the emergence of life on Earth
Bien hecho!
The conditions early in the history of the Earth were much more difficult than we experience today.
Life in extremes similar to those of the early Earth can give us clues to how life evolved here.
Proof of life on Mars
Bien hecho!
Life in extremes on Earth can guide the search for life on Mars but to get proof of whether life has ever
existed on Mars we will need to go there.
Proof that life on Earth originated on another planet and was transferred here
Bien hecho!
It is a healthy area of debate that life may have originated elsewhere and been transferred to Earth but
there is no real evidence this has ever occurred. However, there are studies which are conducted in the
extremes of space to better understand if this is something which is possible.
6.
What is the upper temperature limit of life?
204 degrees celsius
80 degrees Celsius
110 degrees Celsius
121 degrees Celsius
Bien hecho!
The hottest temperature at which life has been found is 121 degrees Celsius. The organism found to
live at this temperature, Geogemma barossi or "Strain 121" was discovered at a hydrothermal vent.
7.
In rocks of what age do we find fossils of the Ediacaran Fauna?
2.5-3 billion years old
200 Million years old
585-542 Million Years Old
Bien hecho!
The Ediacaran fauna are fossil imprints left by soft-bodied animals. They are the oldest remnants of
animal life in the fossil record. They formed at a time when animals had not yet evolved to produce
hard parts like shells or bones and are therefore a rare piece of evidence of what life was like before
fossils were common in the geological record.
540 Million years Old
8.
Which of these are advantages of multicellularity?
increased specialization
Bien hecho!
increased size
Bien hecho!
physical protection
Bien hecho!
development of complex behaviour
Bien hecho!
9.
How many big mass extinction events have been found in the fossil record?
5
Bien hecho!
Periods in geological time are often defined by big changes in environmental conditions. For this
reason a lot of transitions from one period to another are marked by mass extinction events. The main
extinction events are at the transitions between: the Ordovician and the Silurian, the Devonian and the
Carboniferous, the Permian and the Triassic, the triassic and the Jurassic and between the Cretaceous
and the Tertiary period. The Permian-Triassic extinctions is the biggest extinction of all. The
Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction included the extinction of the dinosaurs.
1
10
6
10.
What usually happens to biodiversity after a big extinction event?
biodiversity always reaches previous levels but never increases above the previous level
biodiversity never recovers
biodiversity recovers or increases
Bien hecho!
In the fossil record we see that when an extinction event occurs we usually see a burst in diversification
by the species which were not made extinct. This is because there have been vacant niches (places to
live, things to eat etc) created by the death of the organisms which used to use these and space has been
created for other species to evolve to fill that niche.
11.
What innovation is represented by the Cambrian Explosion?
first land plants
Bien hecho!
The first plants did not move onto land until around 434 million years ago. This is over 100 million
years after the beginning of the Cambrian Explosion. They evolved from algae living around the edges
of lakes.
first multicellular organisms
Bien hecho!
We know from the fossils of the Ediacaran fauna that multicellular organisms existed before the
Cambrian Explosion.
dinosaurs became extinct
Bien hecho!
The first dinosaurs appeared around 225 million years ago. They were killed off by an asteroid impact
and the associated environmental changes during the Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction. The remains
of this impact event (including burnt plant material, minerals altered by shock and rocks deposited by
tsunamis) can be found in the geological record. The layer containing this is called the K-T (cretaceous-
tertiary) boundary.
evolution of hard body parts such as shells.
Bien hecho!
The Cambrian Explosion is the point in the fossil record when hard body-parts such as shells burst on
to the fossil record in huge numbers.
12.
By what mechanisms did multicellularity possibly arise?
evolving bigger cells
Bien hecho!
An increase in size is an advantage of multicellularity but it is not a way that single celled organisms
evolve into multicellular organisms.
incomplete division
Bien hecho!
It is thought that as a cell divided the daughter cells might fail to separate which would lead to two
genetically identical cells within one organism. This might later develop into specialised tissues.
cell clustering
Bien hecho!
dividing really quickly
Bien hecho!
We do not know how quickly multicellulaity would arise but there is no evidence that the rate of
division would be relevant for the evolution of multicellularity itself.
13.
Three billion years ago, what percentage of the present level of oxygen was in the atmosphere?
less than 0.1%
Bien hecho!
0%
more than 1%
21%
14.
Select from the list below both the name and the timing of the sharp rise in oxygen in the Earth's
atmosphere?
2.4 billion years ago
Bien hecho!
3.5 billion years ago
Bien hecho!
The oxygen levels were still only a tiny fraction of that we see today at this time.
Great Oxidation Event
Bien hecho!
Great Oxidation Biodiversification Event
Bien hecho!
This is the name given to the rise in biodiversity seen in the fossil record after the sharp rise in oxygen.
15.
Which of these minerals cannot be used to infer the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere at the
time of formation?
Uraninite
Siderite
Pyrite
Quartz
Bien hecho!
The presence of quartz in a rock does not indicate how much oxygen was in the atmosphere when the
rock was deposited.
16.
What is a palaeosol?
A fossilised soil
Bien hecho!
A portable shelter on a hot day
A type of mineral
A rock which forms under the sea
17.
The depletion of which element in palaeosols older than 2.4 billion years old is seen as evidence that
the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere had changed over time?
Banded Iron Formations
Iron
Bien hecho!
The solubility of iron is affected by the oxygen levels in the atmosphere. When there is less oxygen it is
more soluble and can be washed out of soils. When the oxygen levels rise the iron will not be soluble
and will not be washed out. For this reason palaeosols older than 2.4 billion years old contain less iron
than younger palaeosols.
Oxygen
Pyrite
18.
What effect did the Great Oxidation Event have on the climate?
It caused the climate to cool
Bien hecho!
A rise in oxygen removed methane from the atmosphere which had helped to maintain warmer
temperatures and caused climate to cool.
It caused the climate to become hotter
19.
What benefits did the increase in oxygen have for life on Earth?
The increased oxygen was toxic to some organisms
Bien hecho!
This is a disadvantage.
Organisms could become larger
Bien hecho!
Oxygen is more efficient at producing energy than other possible metabolisms. When the ability to
respire oxygen evolved it allowed organisms to become larger and more complex.
There was a mass extinction because of the rise of oxygen
Bien hecho!
After the Great Oxidation Event there was a rapid increas in biodiversity, not a decrease.
It helped in the evolution of complex life
Bien hecho!
Oxygen is more efficient at producing energy than other possible metabolisms. When the ability to
respire oxygen evolved it allowed organisms to become larger and more complex.
20.
What disadvantage did the rise in oxygen have for life on Earth?
Organisms could become larger.
Oxygen was toxic to some organisms.
Bien hecho!
Before the Great Oxidation Event many organisms were "anaerobic" and used elements like iron or
sulphur instead of oxygen to breathe. When oxygen became abundant in the atmosphere these
organisms had to either adapt to tolerate oxygen or be confined to anaerobic habitats such as deep sea
vents or oxygen-poor sediments.
Enough energy could be gained through oxygen respiration to allow complex life to evolve.
The oceans became too warm for some organisms to survive.
The Habitability of Mars
Excelente!
1.
Which of the following conditions must be met for a planet to be habitable?
It must have a source of potassium
Bien hecho!
Potassium is essential for some types of life, but it is not considered to be absolutely essential for life to
exist
It must have a source of liquid water
Bien hecho!
Liquid water is required for life to do biochemistry
It must be a small planet
Bien hecho!
The planet does not have to be a specific size
It must have nutrients for life
Bien hecho!
Nutrients are required to grow and reproduce
It must have energy supplies for life
Bien hecho!
Energy is needed to grow and reproduce
It must be near freezing
Bien hecho!
A planet must have liquid water, but it does not need to be near freezing
2.
What is the classical 'habitable zone'?
The region around a star in which there is always life
The region around a star in which there is enough light for photosynthesis
The region around a star in which liquid water is stable on a planetary surface
Bien hecho!
This is correct, the habitable zone is calculated as the distance from a star at which liquid water would
be stable.
The region around a star in which microbes can exist
3.
Liquid water can exist outside the classical habitable zone because
Tidal buckling, such as in the Jovian moon Europa, can cause liquid water to form far away from the
habitable zone
Bien hecho!
Even though the planet is far away from the habitable zone, the interior of a moon like Europa can still
have liquid water
Water has different physical properties in different places
Water can be liquid wherever there is life.
The habitable zone can flip into different places quickly and at different times
4.
The habitable zone around an F star is further from its star than our Sun because
F stars are hotter and so the habitable zone is further away
Bien hecho!
Our Sun is a G type star which is cooler than an F star. F stars have their habitable zone further away
F stars have more intense ultraviolet radiation so the habitable zone must be further away
F stars are cooler and so the habitable zone is further away
F stars are short lived so the habitable zone must be further away
5.
The Moon has been said to affect the habitability of the Earth by
Destabilizing the tilt of the planet
Reflecting more light and helping plants to photosynthesise
Stabilizing the tilt of the planet
Bien hecho!
The Moon is indeed thought to stabilize the axis of the Earth and some people think that this makes the
climate more stable than it otherwise would be.
Preventing asteroids from hitting the Earth
Providing nutrients
6.
The Viking Lander Biology experiments were designed to detect life. Today, what do scientists
consider that it demonstrated?
That it showed the presence of a reactive surface chemistry
Bien hecho!
The experiments are now generally interpreted as being the result of oxidants in the martian soil (such
as perchlorates).
This it showed the presence of certain types of microbes in the Martian soil
That is showed the indisputable presence of life
That it showed the presence of large quantities of organics in the soil
7.
Astronomers in the early twentieth century thought they had seen canals on Mars. What are these now
believed to be?
A processing trick of the human brain in visualising large natural features on Mars
Bien hecho!
It is thought that astronomers such as Lowell and others saw the natural deserts and other variable
features on Mars and their minds made linking lines between them - an optical processing trick of the
human brain.
Changes in the natural cover of vegetation on Mars
Artificial canals built by a long-dead civilization
Seasonally changing deserts on Mars
8.
Grains of the iron oxide, magnetite, in a meteorite, are evidence for what?
Undeniable evidence of the activity of magnetotactic bacteria
Only evidence for chemical processes
Possible non-biological or biological processes, depending on their shape
Bien hecho!
Yes, magnetite crystals can be produced by both biological and chemical reactions.
Evidence for decayed remains of animals
9.
In 1996, scientists reported finding possible evidence of fossil life in a Martian meteorite. Which one of
the following was suggested as evidence for life?
Remains of cell membranes
Amino acids
Polyaromatic hydrocarbons
Bien hecho!
PAHs can be produced chemically, but their association with carbonate globules in specific locations in
ALH840001 was claimed as evidence for ancient martian life.
Layers of cell colonies
10.
Life needs which of the following to persist on a planetary surface?
A source of heat
Bien hecho!
Life does not need heat as such, but it does need some form of energy and conditions have to be warm
enough to support liquid water
A source of energy
Bien hecho!
Life needs energy to grow and reproduce
A source of water
Bien hecho!
Life needs water to carry out biochemical reactions
A source of calcium
Bien hecho!
Not all organisms need calcium
A source of methane
Bien hecho!
Some microbes metabolise methane, but it is not a requirement
11.
In what period of Martian history is it thought that some of the earliest valley networks and lakes were
formed?
Edinburghian
Noachian
Bien hecho!
The Noachian is the period of Mars history about 4.1 to 3.7 billion years ago when many of Mars'
liquid water features such as lakes and rivers seemed to have formed
Amazonian
Paleozoic
12.
Alternating stripes in the intensity of magnetic fields observed in rocks in southern hemisphere of Mars
are thought to indicate what?
Early plate tectonics on Mars
Bien hecho!
The strips are thought to represent rock flowing across the surface of Mars and as it cooled 'trapping'
the Martian magnetic field
Giant meteorite impacts
Ancient life on Mars
Ancient water on Mars
13.
Which of the following conditions are thought to make the surface of Mars uninhabitable today?
Lack of phosphate
Bien hecho!
It is thought that phosphate does exist in rocks such as apatites
High oxygen levels
Bien hecho!
Mars has very low oxygen levels (about 0.14%)
Low concentrations of organics
Bien hecho!
This might be a consequence the lack of life, but it would not be a factor that would stop life from
growing.
Lack of liquid water
Bien hecho!
The lack of liquid water is crucial because it prevents life from doing biochemical reactions
High radiation exposures
Bien hecho!
High radiation (including ultraviolet and ionizing radiation) would add to the deleterious conditions on
the surface, particularly in combination with desiccation as organisms cannot repair themselves.
14.
Today, where do people think might be the best place to look for extant life on Mars?
On the surface of the polar caps
In the core of Mars
In the atmosphere
In the subsurface
Bien hecho!
In the subsurface there may be liquid water and life would be protected from the harsh conditions at the
surface
15.
Planetary protection is concerned with protecting science on other planets. What is the name given to
the problem of transferring life to extraterrestrial environments?
Drop contamination
Back contamination
Forward contamination
Bien hecho!
The contamination of other bodies with life from Earth is 'forward contamination'
Advance contamination
16.
One way to sterilize a spacecraft prior to its launch is to
Wash it with soap
Leave it for a long time for the microbes to die
Sterilize it with heat
Bien hecho!
This is one way and was used to sterilize the Viking Landers sent to Mars in the 1970s.
Put it into a microwave oven
17.
Evidence of liquid water on the present-day surface of Mars might include
Rain storms during the summer months
Seeps of briny fluids
Bien hecho!
Seeps that seem to change seasonally have been observed using the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. They
are thought to represent possible brines seeping from the subsurface.
Lakes of liquid water
Fast flowing rivers observed in the northern hemisphere
18.
The hypothetical mechanism by which life might be transferred from one planet to another has been
referred to as
Panspermia
Bien hecho!
Correct
Biogeography
Rocky life
Litholife
19.
What is the strongest evidence on the Earth that rocky material is transferred between planets?
Because all planets are always breaking apart
Because Martian meteorites have been recovered on the surface of the Earth
Bien hecho!
Martian meteorites have been found on the Earth. Their composition and small pockets of gas within
them that have an atmospheric and isotopic composition similar to the Martian atmosphere are
evidence they are from Mars
Because the distances between planets are small
Because all planets eject rocky material
20.
Which of the following conditions would have to be met for life to be transferred between a planet?
Rocks must be ejected from a planet at low enough shock pressure for life to survive
Bien hecho!
If the shock of an asteroid or comet is too large then life inside the rock will be killed.
Life in rocks must survive transfer in space
Bien hecho!
Life must survive the radiation environment of space during its transfer from one planet to another.
Life must always have a source of nutrients during its transfer from one planet to another
Bien hecho!
During the transfer from one planet to another life could be completely inactive (for example
desiccated or frozen), so it would not need nutrients
Life must be kept frozen throughout the journey
Bien hecho!
Life does not need to be frozen, although this might act to preserve it better in some cases
Life must survive in the rock during atmospheric entry
Bien hecho!
Life must survive inside the rock as it enters the atmosphere of the host planet.
Life in rocks must always have a source of liquid water
Bien hecho!
During the transfer from one planet to another life could be completely inactive (for example
desiccated or frozen), so it would not need liquid water
Life and Icy Bodies
Excelente!
1.
Which are the four 'Galilean' moons of Jupiter?
Io
Bien hecho!
This is correct. It was one of the four moons first observed by Galileo.
Titan
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. This is a moon of Saturn
Europa
Bien hecho!
Callisto
Bien hecho!
Ganymede
Bien hecho!
Charon
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. This is a moon of Pluto
Triton
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. This is a moon of Neptune
2.
Europa is said to be 'tidally locked' to Jupiter. What does this mean?
That one face always points towards Jupiter
Bien hecho!
This is correct. A tidally locked moon keeps one face towards its planet
That the tides are always the same
That tides change very rapidly
That the moon swings rapidly from one side to another
3.
The surface of Europa appears to be very young. What is one line of evidence for this?
There are no ancient rocky mountain ranges
There are very few impact craters
Bien hecho!
This is correct. The low numbers of craters suggests the surface is being reformed.
It is white
It looks new
4.
Magnetic measurements and other studies suggest that the icy crust of Europa directly covers what?
A rocky core
An ocean of water
Bien hecho!
This is correct
An ocean of liquid neon
A layer of solid organics
5.
Which 1970s spacecraft prompted discussions on the possibility of a subsurface ocean in Europa?
The New Horizons spacecraft
The Venera craft
The Voyager 1 and 2 craft
Bien hecho!
This is correct. In 1979 they sent back detailed images of the surface that suggested a young age and
began discussions about whether the moon contained water
The Viking spacecraft
6.
Fractures on the surface of Europa are thought to be caused by what process?
Boiling water melting the ice
Ice breaking apart under Europa's gravity
Ancient cracks from the formation of Europa
The tidal forces of Jupiter pulling on the moon and causing the fractures
Bien hecho!
This is correct
7.
Why has Europa become a focus in the search for life beyond the Earth?
It is full of organics
It is a small planetary body
The presence of a large body of liquid water makes it a potentially favourable location for life
Bien hecho!
This is correct
It is far out in the Solar System
8.
Enceladus is a moon of Saturn and was discovered in 1789 by which astronomer?
William Herschel
Bien hecho!
This is correct
Tycho Brahe
Christian Huygens
Galileo Galilei
9.
The Voyager spacecraft observed what features on the surface of Enceladus that suggested a young ice
surface?
Melting water on the surface
Frozen lakes and ponds
A reflective surface with few craters
Bien hecho!
This is correct
Giant icebergs
10.
The Cassini spacecraft observed plumes of material emanating from Enceladus. From where were they
observed to come?
From the surface at the equator
From the equatorial region
From the north polar region
From the south polar region
Bien hecho!
This is correct. The plumes come from 'Tiger stripes' in the south polar region
11.
What component of the plumes of Encaladus has attracted the interest of astrobiologists?
Amino acids
Organic material
Bien hecho!
The Cassini spacecraft detected complex organics in the plumes of Enceladus
Sulfur
Bacteria
12.
Which of the following, as well as complex organics, have also been detected in the plumes of
Enceladus?
Water
Bien hecho!
Water has been detected
Carbon dioxide
Bien hecho!
Carbon Dioxide has been detected
Propane
Bien hecho!
Propare has been detected
Methane
Bien hecho!
Methane has been detected
13.
The Tiger Stripes from which the plumes of Enceladus emanate are thought to be about how old?
Less than 500,000 years old
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Geologically they are quite young
5 million years old
14.
Which moon of Neptune is thought to have an icy crust and may once have hosted an ocean?
Titanic
Titan
Triton
Bien hecho!
This is correct
Titania
15.
In addition to Europa, other moons of Jupiter may host liquid water oceans. Which of the following is a
possible candidate?
Thebe
Bien hecho!
Thebe is a rocky moon of Jupiter and is not thought to host an ocean
Io
Bien hecho!
Io has active volcanism and an active sulfur cycle but it is not thought to harbour a liquid water ocean
Ganymede
Bien hecho!
This is correct
Amalthea
Bien hecho!
Amalthea is a rocky moon of Jupiter and it is not thought to host an ocean
16.
Titan, a moon of Saturn has lakes and rivers containing which liquid substance?
Sulfur
Water
Methane
Bien hecho!
This is correct. There may also be other organics within the methane, but at Titan's low temperatures,
methane is liquid
Carbon dioxide
17.
The surface features of Titan seem to move around suggesting what?
That Titan is collapsing
That Titan is all made of liquid
That Titan may host a subsurface ocean
Bien hecho!
This is correct
18.
The organic rich surface and atmosphere of Titan has been compared to what?
The formation of organics in the interstellar medium
Life in deep sea vents
The fate of organic compounds in stars
Early organic reactions leading to the origin of life on the Earth
Bien hecho!
This is correct. The formation of organic compounds might give us clues as to how complex organic
chemistry occurred on the early earth
19.
To date, what is the furthest body from the Sun in or near our Solar System that has been proposed as a
location for a subsurface water body?
Triton, a moon of Neptune
Europa, a moon of Jupiter
Titan, a moon of Saturn
Charon, the moon of Pluto
Bien hecho!
This is correct. This has been proposed, although we still don't know about the composition of Charon.
The Search for Exoplanets
Excelente!
1.
Select the correct definition of an extrasolar planet (or exoplanet).
A planet orbiting a particularly bright star
A planet in other galaxy
A planet orbiting two or more stars
A planet residing beyond our Solar System
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
2.
Which feature is common to all main sequence stars?
They are all extremely luminous
All of them are likely to support potentially habitable planets
They all have a very similar temperature
They are at a similar stage of evolution, burning hydrogen in their cores
Bien hecho!
This is correct. All main sequence stars are characterized by hydrogen burning within their cores.
3.
Why is it difficult to detect new exoplanets directly?
Directly detectable planets must pass in front of their parent star
We do not possess the technology for it
Exoplanets are frequently veiled by dark matter
Their light is often obscured by stellar radiation
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
4.
What is the most commonly used method for discovering exoplanets?
Gravitational lensing
Astrometry
The Doppler shift (aka radial velocity) method
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
The transit method
5.
The transit method has enabled us to discover several new exoplanets. What else is it used for?
Inferring physical properties of the planet
Bien hecho!
This is correct. The transit method enables measurements allowing us to infer properties such as the
planetary radius. If the transit method is combined with Doppler shift measurements, it is also possible
to estimate the planet's density.
Studying the influence of gravity on the 'bending' of light.
Tracking the movement of the parent star
6.
Why does the detection of exoplanets by gravitational lensing effectively rely on chance?
The star in the foreground must wobble
The planet-to-star mass ratio must be exactly right
It requires the momentary alignment of two distant stars
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
7.
What is the Doppler shift (aka radial velocity) method based on?
Detecting fluctuations in the wavelength of radiation received from a star
Bien hecho!
This is correct. These fluctuations are caused by the 'wobbling' movement of the parent star as the
planet orbits around it.
Detecting periodic reductions in stellar radiation
Tracking the position of a star over time
8.
Which of the following statements is true?
Astrometry relies on measuring Doppler shifts
Planets near supergiants are particularly likely to be habitable
Gravitational lensing is particularly useful for detecting planets near their parent stars
No currently used method for detecting exoplanets can be considered the best
Bien hecho!
This is correct. All current methods for detecting exoplanets have different benefits and drawbacks.
9.
Exoplanets are incredibly diverse in terms of their environmental conditions. It is now clear that:
The majority of exoplanets reside within habitable zones
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect.
Most exoplanets are Hot Jupiters
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. However, most of the earlier exoplanet discoveries consisted of this planet type.
Most exoplanets are uninhabitable
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
Many exoplanets are entirely unlike those within our Solar System
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
10.
What proportion of known planetary systems is thought to have rocky planets within the habitable
zone?
75%
25%
33%
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
50%
11.
Which of these are most likely to enable a planet to reside within the habitable zone?
Orbiting a main sequence star
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Main sequence stars have a long-term stable energy source (hydrogen fusion) that is
required for the development of carbon-based life.
Orbiting a white dwarf
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect, as white dwarfs have no stable energy source.
A rocky surface
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. Many rocky planets exist outside of the habitable zone.
Being within an optimal distance from the parent star
Bien hecho!
This is correct, as it is necessary for the existence of liquid water.
12.
Which two methods are the most conceptually similar?
Astrometry and the Doppler shift method
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Both methods rely on the movement of the parent star.
The Doppler shift (aka radial velocity) method and the transit method
Gravitational lensing and the transit method
13.
Which of the following statements about the habitable zone is false?
The term habitable zone is based on the likelihood of finding liquid water
Very little is known about the habitability of planets in binary star systems
Its location is influenced by the luminosity of the parent star
Cooler stars tend to have more distant habitable zones
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Habitable zones in these types of environments tend to be relatively close to their parent
stars.
14.
Select the option that best describes the first definitively detected exoplanet.
It is called Perseus
It is small and rocky like the Earth, but it is too hot to be habitable
It is a Hot Neptune
The planet orbits close to its star and has a high mass
Bien hecho!
This is true. This planet is a 'Hot Jupiter'.
15.
Astrometry relies on the change of what in a planetary system to detect a planet?
The intensity of the light of the star
The movement of a star around the common centre of mass
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
The wavelength of light
The heat of the star
16.
Most exoplanets described to date are very large. Tick the options that are most likely to explain this.
The majority of extrasolar planets are large
Bien hecho!
This is unlikely. The number of discovered small exoplanets is predicted to increase in tandem with
technological developments.
We have only recently developed technologies for detecting small and Earth-like planets
Bien hecho!
This is true.
There is a historical bias towards detecting large planets
Bien hecho!
This is true.
17.
What could be said about the habitable zones of hot stars?
The range of planetary orbits they may contain is unaffected by the stars luminosity
They contain a comparatively broad range of possible planetary orbits that are further from their star
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Brighter stars tend to have broader habitable zones and the habitable zone is further
away
Giant stars have the broadest habitable zones
18.
When a planet is part of a binary star system, this means that:
The radiation signal of the parent star alternates between two different modes
The planet is in a system with two stars
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
The planet is one of two orbiting the same parent star
19.
What are Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz recognized for?
They were the first researchers to report the existence of an Earth-sized exoplanet
They discovered the exoplanet Bellerophon
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Bellerophon was the first definitively detected exoplanet.
They speculated about the existence of exoplanets already in the 1500s
They identified the first puffy planet with a density the same as polystyrene
20.
Name the most likely reason for the formation of diamond planets.
Tidal heating leads to the formation of vast layers of diamonds, graphite and silicon carbide
They have migrated extremely close to their parent stars
They orbit stars which are particularly rich in carbon
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
Biosignatures on Exoplanets
Excelente!
1.
Tick those options that fall within the definition of a biosignature.
Evidence for current biological activities
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
Evidence for environmental conditions that may support life
Bien hecho!
While understanding these conditions is fundamental to the search for extraterrestrial life, they do not
constitute biosignatures.
Signs of past life
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
2.
How has life influenced the composition of the terrestrial atmosphere?
It has been driven towards a state of equilibrium rather than away from it
Biological activities have steered it away from chemical equilibrium
Bien hecho!
This is correct. The production of oxygen via photosynthesis is one example of such an activity.
It has contributed greatly to the photolysis of carbon dioxide
3.
Which of the following are used as biosignatures in exoplanet research? Tick all that apply.
Certain atmospheric gases
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
Evidence for vegetation
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
Surface temperature
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. Even though life requires a suitable temperature regime to develop, temperature is not
a biosignature.
Water vapor
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. While liquid water is required by life, it is not a biosignature in its own right.
4.
Which of these could represent biosignatures of photosynthesizing plants on a planets surface?
Nitrous oxide
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. Nitrous oxide is an 'anoxic' biosignature gas.
A red edge signal
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
Liquid water
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. Life requires water, but it is not a biosignature.
Oxygen or ozone
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Oxygen is produced by photosynthesis and infrared spectroscopy uses ozone as a proxy
for the presence of oxygen.
5.
Select those biosignature gases that would be most applicable to detecting signs of life in an
extraterrestrial environment resembling the Early Earth (3.5 - 4 billions of years ago).
Methane
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Methanogenesis is possible when there is very little oxygen available.
Oxygen
Bien hecho!
Oxygen is a biosignature gas, but concentrations of oxygen in the terrestrial atmosphere were very low
3.5 - 4 billions of years ago. In fact, oxygenic photosynthesis evolved approximately 3 billion years
ago.
Ethane
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Ethane is an 'anoxic' biosignature gas.
Carbon dioxide
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. Although carbon dioxide is a pre-requisite for photosynthesis, it is not a biosignature
gas.
6.
Which of the following sentences about spectroscopy is true?
Land-based telescopes are incapable of measuring atmospheric spectra
It is entirely based on measurements of visible light
Spectra can be used to infer the presence but not the relative concentrations of different atmospheric
gases
It measures how radiation is absorbed and/or transmitted across a range of wavelengths
Bien hecho!
This is true. The result is an absorbance or transmittance spectrum.
7.
If one discovered organic compounds within the atmosphere of an exoplanet, what could be concluded?
Depending on the compounds, they could function as building blocks for carbon-based life
Bien hecho!
This is correct. For example, hydrogen cyanide is an organic compound that could play a role in the
formation of adenine (one of the four nucleotides in DNA).
Life must be present in one form or another
Bien hecho!
Organic compounds do not constitute evidence for life.
The planet is habitable, even if there is no direct evidence for life
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect.
Some of the compounds could represent atmospheric biosignature gases
Bien hecho!
This is true. Certain organic compounds (such as methane) are used as biosignature gases.
8.
Why are combinations of biosignature gases in a non-equilibrium state useful to life detection
missions?
Only gases which are near their chemical equilibrium are useful to life detection
Gases in a non-equilibrium state are uninfluenced by atmospheric conditions
They constitute more convincing evidence for biology than individual biosignatures
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
They are particularly easy to detect by spectroscopy
9.
How is biogenic methane formed?
It is a by-product of photochemistry
It is produced by cyanobacteria when there is little oxygen available
Microorganisms produce it by breaking down organic matter
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Methanogenesis is a form of anaerobic respiration. However, methane may also be
produced by non-biological processes.
10.
What is the name of the instrument used to obtain the first evidence for organic compounds in an
extrasolar atmosphere?
James Webb Space Telescope
Evidence for organics has only been found within our Solar System
Hubble Space Telescope
Bien hecho!
The compounds in question were methane and carbon dioxide (discovered in 2007).
James Clerk Maxwell Space Telescope
11.
Of the following types of radiation, which is likely to be the most useful to detecting signs of life on an
exoplanet?
Gamma radiation
Infrared radiation
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Infrared spectroscopy is frequently used in biosignature research.
X-ray radiation
None of the above
12.
Which of the following statements is false?
Oxygen can be produced non-biologically
Ethane is considered a potential biosignature gas
Detecting biosignatures is the primary aim of most current exoplanet missions
Bien hecho!
Ongoing exoplanet missions are primarily aimed at discovering new planets.
13.
When did we first discover Earth-sized exoplanets orbiting a star similar to our Sun?
In 2011, but only one such planet has been identified
Planets like these are yet to be discovered
Approximately a decade ago
In 2011
Bien hecho!
Kepler-20e and Kepler-20f were discovered by the Kepler Space Telescope.
14.
What does it mean when certain molecules are referred to as prebiotic?
They precede the development of life
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Prebiotic compounds may form 'building blocks' for the development of life.
Life has contributed to their formation over millions of years
They contain living organisms (e.g. bacteria)
15.
Name one of the main contributions of the space telescope Kepler to our search for extraterrestrial life.
It was the first space telescope to characterize the atmosphere of an extrasolar planet
It was the first telescope to identify water vapour in the atmosphere of an exoplanet
It has enabled the discovery of more than fifty rocky exoplanets
Bien hecho!
This is correct. The telescope was only launched in 2009, but it has contributed greatly towards our
knowledge of extrasolar planets.
16.
Which of the following should be considered when selecting potential biosignatures to measure?
The planetary surface temperature
Bien hecho!
Even though temperature is not a biosignature, it will influence the availability of liquid water. The
search for biosignatures must also account for physical and environmental factors.
The presence of carbon dioxide
Bien hecho!
Carbon dioxide is not a biosignature, but it is required for oxygenic photosynthesis. Without
demonstrating the presence of this compound, only limited evidence for photosynthesis can be
obtained.
Availability of liquid water
Bien hecho!
Water it is not a biosignature. However, the availability of liquid water is a pre-requisite for carbon-
based biology and must be considered as part of the search for extraterrestrial life.
17.
Why is the infrared signal of ozone used as a proxy for the presence of atmospheric oxygen?
Ozone is detectable at infrared wavelengths
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Oxygen is not detectable at infrared wavelengths, which is why infrared spectroscopy
uses ozone as a proxy for oxygen. The availabilities of ozone and oxygen are linked because the former
is a photolytic product of the latter.
Oxygen cannot be detected by spectroscopy
Concentrations of oxygen are usually too low to measure directly
18.
Name one of the advantages of studying exoplanets that partially eclipse their parent star (as seen from
the Earth).
The analysis of biosignatures is only possible for these types of planets
These types of planets are easy to study because there is less background noise
It provides a way to separate atmospheric spectra from the background signal
Bien hecho!
This is correct. Light from the star will pass through the planetary atmosphere and the atmospheric
spectrum can be extracted for analysis.
19.
Which of the following statements about land-based telescopes is true?
They can only be used to study very large gas giant exoplanets
They may enable direct analysis of Earth-like exoplanets in the future
Bien hecho!
This is true. Three Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs) have been commissioned and these are hoped to
enable the direct visualization of exoplanets.
They are the only way to study exoplanet atmospheres
20.
What is expected from exoplanet missions in the future? Tick all that apply.
Both land- and space-based telescopes will be used
Bien hecho!
Several initiatives for future exoplanet research are in progress and these will involve both types of
telescopes.
Tens of thousands of new planetary systems may be discovered
Bien hecho!
Improved technologies and next-generation instruments are expected to greatly increase the number of
known exoplanets.
There will be an increased focus on life detection
Bien hecho!
This is correct. For example, the EChO mission (~2020) aims to characterize the atmospheres of
exoplanets within habitable zones.
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Excelente!
1.
The equation that is used to estimate the number of communicative civilisations in the galaxy is
referred to as the:
The Sagan equation
The Lowell equation
The Drake Equation
Bien hecho!
This is correct. It was named after the American planetary scientist, Frank Drake
The Pasteur Equation
2.
The Drake equation contains which of the following terms?
The fraction of these planets where life develops
Bien hecho!
This is correct
The fraction of stars with planets
Bien hecho!
This is correct
The number of Earth-like worlds per planetary system
Bien hecho!
This is correct
The lifetime of communicating civilizations
Bien hecho!
This is correct
3.
When the Drake equation was first proposed how many communicative civilizations were estimated?
About 10,000
Bien hecho!
This is correct.
About 50,000
About 5
About 1 million
4.
The hunt for alien intelligences is usually referred to as
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
Bien hecho!
This is correct
The Search for Other Intelligences (SOTI)
The Hunt for Alien Civilisations (HAC)
The Search for Close Encounters of the Third Kind (SCETK)
5.
In a Nature paper of what year did Philip Morrison and Guiseppe Cocconi first propose the search for
extraterrestrial intelligence?
1824
1963
1959
Bien hecho!
This is correct
1927
6.
Which region of the electromagnetic spectrum was favoured in early searches for extraterrestrial
intelligence and continues to be used today.
Sound
Visible light
Radio waves
Bien hecho!
This is correct. The atmosphere is almost transparent to radio waves so they are one of the most
promising ways to search for ET signals
Ultraviolet radiation
7.
The building of which radio telescope in the 1950s was one of the major encouragements to the idea of
SETI?
The Tatel Telescope in West Virginia
The Parkes Telescope, Australia
The Lovell telescope in Manchester, UK
Bien hecho!
This is correct
Arecibo Dish Observatory
8.
The first serious search for ET signals was initiated in 1960. What was its name?
Project Ozma
Bien hecho!
This is correct. It was initiated by Frank Drake using the 84ft Tatel Telescope in West Virginia
Project Obama
Project Ozzie
Project Onslo
9.
Project Phoenix was an attempt to search for ET signals in 1995. How many stars did it search?
About 1300
About 250
About 800
Bien hecho!
This is correct
About 50
10.
The Serendip project was an example of what?
A project that linked up multiple radio telescopes to search for ET signals to improve accuracy
A project that used satellite dishes on people's houses, all linked over the internet to search for ET
signals
A project that used new telescopes to upgrade the search for ET signals
A project that piggybacked on existing radio telsecopes to find ET signals
Bien hecho!
This is correct. It used the Arecibo dish observatory to survey stars
11.
The 'WOW' signal in 1977, detected at the Big Ear radio telescope of The Ohio State University is
thought to have been what:
An alien signal
There is no conclusive indication of what it was
Bien hecho!
This is correct. However, there is no compelling evidence that it was extraterrestrial (intelligent) in
origin
A signal from a satellite
An aircraft signal
12.
The Pioneer 10 and 11 plaques placed on these two spacecraft contained which of the following
information?
A picture of DNA
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. This was, however, included in the Arecibo message of 1974
A picture of a man and a woman
Bien hecho!
This is correct
A picture showing the location of the Earth
Bien hecho!
This is correct
A picture of a collection of animals
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect.
A picture of the Earth
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect. These was a picture showing the location of the Earth, but not the Earth itself
13.
Which scientist said this about the records sent into space on the Voyager spacecraft: 'The launching of
this bottle' into the cosmic 'ocean' says something very hopeful about life on this planet.'
Giordano Bruno
Charles Darwin
Frank Drake
Carl Sagan
Bien hecho!
This is correct
14.
Which of the following was included in the Arecibo Message, broadcast to the globular star cluster
M13 in 1974?
Double helix structure of DNA
Bien hecho!
This is correct
Atomic numbers of H, C, N, O, P
Bien hecho!
This is correct
Image of Arecibo telescope
Bien hecho!
This is correct
Population of Earth
Bien hecho!
This is correct
A picture of a horse
Bien hecho!
This is incorrect
15.
Despite many searches, at the time of writing there is still no evidence for extraterrestrial intelligence
despite the possibly high number of habitable planets in the galaxy. What is this paradox called?
The Fermi Paradox
Bien hecho!
This is correct. It was named after physicist Enrico Fermi
The Darwinian Paradox
The Alien Paradox
The ET paradox
Societal Implications of Contact with ET
Excelente!
1.
Which prize was offered in 1900 for the first person to make contact with an extraterrestrial
intelligence?
The Alien Prize
The Guzman Prize
Bien hecho!
This is correct. It was a prize for 100,000 francs for the first person to make contact with ET
intelligence.
The Pasteur Prize
The Lavoisier Prize
2.
Which international body in 1977 discussed the protocol for communicating with extraterrestrial
intelligence
The United Nations
Bien hecho!
This is correct, specifically the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
The International Monetary Fund
The World Bank
The World Wildlife Fund
3.
Which of the following questions was posed by the UN in 1977?
Should a register of messages sent to aliens be kept?
Bien hecho!
This is correct
Would art or science better represent humanity?
Bien hecho!
This is correct
Should messages to extraterrestrial intelligence be composed by international organisations such as the
UN?
Bien hecho!
This is correct
4.
The following message was once transmitted into space from the General Secretary of the UN:
'We step out of our Solar System into the universe seeking only peace and friendship; to teach if we are
called upon, to be taught if we are fortunate.'.
How was this done?
On the Pioneer spacecraft
In a radio message from the Arecibo Dish Observatory
By light signals
On copper records on the Voyager spacecraft
Bien hecho!
This is correct. A copper record with images and music from Earth as well as the message was placed
on both Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft.
5.
In addition to the UN message, the Voyager records sent on the Voyager spacecraft contained what?
A wide range of TV adverts
A set of recordings of famous 1970s pop stars
The latest Barry Manilow album
Images and music representative of different cultures on Earth
Bien hecho!
This is correct. The record was filled with large numbers of images and music from Earth
6.
When the first alien message from the UN was sent into space on the Voyager spacecraft, how many
nation states did the UN represent according to the message sent?
147
Bien hecho!
This is correct
123
208
47
7.
The Fermi Paradox, raised by physicist Enrico Fermi posed the general question:
If there is a good statistical chance they are out there when why don't we see them?
Bien hecho!
This is correct
Why do we send so few messages to them?
If they are out there why haven't they attacked us?
Why don't they share technology with us?
8.
Possible answers to the Fermi Paradox are:
They watch our wars and we terrify them
Bien hecho!
Who would be surprised?!
They cant get here (its too far)
Bien hecho!
This is correct. The distances for interstellar travel may be beyond the realms of technology
We are a zoo and they are watching us
Bien hecho!
This would be slightly unnerving....
We are being denied entry to the galactic club because we have much to learn
Bien hecho!
This also wouldn't surprise many people
9.
Which religion specifically discussed in this course allows for the possibility of alien life?
Buddhism
Hinduism
Christianity
Islam
Bien hecho!
In the Quran it states, And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth,
and of whatever living creatures (da'bbah) He has spread forth in both...
In fact few religions explicitly exclude the possibility of ET life.
10.
Which of these contacts with alien life would be most likely to cause concern about how to tell the
public among international bodies?
The detection of a signal from an alien spacecraft of unuknown characteristics in our Solar System
Bien hecho!
The proximity of such a machine and its intelligent origin probably would cause most concern,
The discovery of microbes on Mars
The discovery of an ancient signal transmitted thousands of years ago from a distant star

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Life Through Time

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

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