Mr. Hunter05/09/2012Biology Exam Review - Cornell Format

1. Carbon has an atomic number of 12. Therefore, the isotope carbon-14 has_________ protons and ________neutrons.

2. Using carbon-14, which has a half life of 5730 yrs, you want to find the age of a rock that has only 50% of carbon-14 remaining. What would the age of the rock be ____________ yrs. How many half lives _________

3. How do scientists theorize that Earth formed?4. Scientists have estimated the Earth to be ___________ yrs old.5. An RNA molecule that can act as an enzyme is called a ___________6. How does the discovery of microspheres and coacervates support hypotheses

of the origin of life?7. In what respect are RNA molecules and proteins similar?8. Describe the control group, the experimental group, and the independent and

dependent variables in Redi’s experiment.9. Explain how the half-life of a radioactive isotope affects the usefulness of that

isotope in dating specific types of rocks.10. Why do some scientists think that areas protected from the atmosphere might

have favored the production of organic compounds on early Earth?11. According to scientists, how did mitochondria originate?12. How did Pasteur’s experiment differ from Spallazani’s experiment?13. Why did Spalllazini boil the broth in his experiment?14. How was the idea of a “vital force” disproved by Pasteur?