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Which one of the following is incorrect about the characteristics of protobionts (coacervates and microspheres) as envisaged in the abiogenic origin of life?
A
They were partially isolated from the surroundings
B
They could maintain an internal environment
C
They were able to reproduce
D
They could separate combinations of molecules from the surroundings
Detailed Solution
Protobionts are aggregates of abiotically produced organic molecules surrounded by a membrane-like boundary. Coacervates (Oparin) and microspheres (Sidney Fox) are their models.
Their boundary partially isolated them from the surroundings.
They could separate combinations of molecules from the surroundings and concentrate them inside.
They could maintain an internal environment different from the outside, and showed simple metabolism-like reactions.
However, they lacked nucleic acids, i.e. a hereditary mechanism for exact replication. They could only grow and break into smaller pieces, which is not true reproduction.
The first non-cellular forms of life that could replicate arose later, when self-replicating molecules such as RNA appeared.
So the incorrect statement is that they were able to reproduce.
Their boundary partially isolated them from the surroundings.
They could separate combinations of molecules from the surroundings and concentrate them inside.
They could maintain an internal environment different from the outside, and showed simple metabolism-like reactions.
However, they lacked nucleic acids, i.e. a hereditary mechanism for exact replication. They could only grow and break into smaller pieces, which is not true reproduction.
The first non-cellular forms of life that could replicate arose later, when self-replicating molecules such as RNA appeared.
So the incorrect statement is that they were able to reproduce.