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20 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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amino acid
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Carbon-chain molecule that is the building block of protein. (p. 476)
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Cambrian period
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A geological period 0.6 to 0.5 billion years ago during which life on Earth became diverse and complex. Cambrian rocks contain the oldest easily identifiable fossils. (p. 478)
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chemical evolution
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The chemical process that led to the growth of complex molecules on primitive Earth. This did not involve the reproduction of molecules. (p. 480)
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chromosome
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A body within a living cell that contains genetic information responsible for the determination and transmission of hereditary traits. (p. 477)
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deoxyribonucleic acid
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The long carbon-chain molecule that records information to govern the biological activity of the organism. DNA carries the genetic data passed to offspring. (p. 476)
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DNA
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See deoxyribonucleic acid.
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Drake equation
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The equation that estimates the total number of communicative civilizations in our galaxy. (p. 490)
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enzyme
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Special protein that controls processes in an organism. (p. 476)
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gene
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A unit of DNA - or sometimes RNA - information responsible for controlling an inherited physiological trait. (p. 477)
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life zone
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A region around a star within which a planet can have temperatures that permit the existence of liquid water. (p. 486)
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Miller experiment
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An experiment that reproduced the conditions under which life began on Earth and manufactured amino acids and other organic compounds. (p. 478)
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mutant
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Offspring born with altered DNA. (p. 475)
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natural selection
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The process by which the best traits are passed on, allowing the most able to survive. (p. 475)
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primordial soup
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The rich solution of organic molecules in Earth's first oceans. (p. 480)
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protein
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Complex molecule composed of amino acid units. (p. 476)
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ribonucleic acid
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Long carbon-chain molecules that use the information stored in DNA to manufacture complex molecules necessary to the organism. (p. 477)
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RNA
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See ribonucleic acid.
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SETI
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The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. (p. 489)
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stromatolite
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A layered fossil formation caused by ancient mats of algae or bacteria, which build up mineral deposits season after season. (p. 481)
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water hole
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The interval of the radio spectrum between the 21-cm hydrogen radiation and the 18-cm OH radiation. Likely wavelengths to use in the search for extraterrestrial life. (p. 489)
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