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Question

The field of exobiology seeks to understand the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the universe. Exobiology as a discipline emerged shortly after a 1953 experiment conducted at the University of Chicago that used electricity and simple gases to produce amino acids, the building blocks of proteins and, therefore, organic life as we know it. The experiment was conducted by a biology graduate student, Stephen Miller, in the lab of Harold Urey, a scientist who was already well-known for his theories on the composition of the early earth’s atmosphere. Miller and Urey put three gases believed to have been present in the early atmosphere – methane, ammonia, and hydrogen – into a closed system with an “ocean” of water at the bottom and ran electricity through the gases to simulate the lightning storms believed common on the early earth. At the end of a week, the scientists observed that basic organic compounds, including amino acids, had formed and dissolved in the water, where some of them had even combined to form more complex, though still non-living, substances.
 
Drawing on established scientific methodologies, exobiology synthesizes data and theories from various disciplines such as biology, chemistry, and physics to explore life's potential beyond our planet. Though parts of the Miller-Urey experiment have been thrown into question by more recent discoveries, exobiology remains a small, close-knit field of dedicated scientists with backgrounds in areas as diverse as biology, chemistry and physics. Much of the current research supported by NASA, the American space agency, focuses on four major areas. The first two speculate about the evolution of compounds necessary to organic life, whether that be the development in space of “biogenic,” or life-generating compounds, or the planetary evolution of compounds that are considered “prebiotic,” or pre-living. A third area seeks to trace steps of transformation from organic compounds to simple forms of life, and a fourth studies the evolution from simple organisms to the complex and diverse forms of life found on earth today. Investigations in all four areas involve a mixture of approaches: observation of simple life-forms, such as bacteria and viruses; examination of materials from space, such as asteroids, which seem to contain evidence of life; speculation based on data gathered from telescopes and space probes; and experimentation.
 
Today, exobiology not only reflects on its foundational experiments but also actively extends into diverse research areas, directly impacting our understanding of life's potential across the universe through both historical analysis and forward-looking scientific inquiries.

According to the passage, EACH of the following is an area of investigation for exobiology EXCEPT the

A. development in space of compounds that have potential to generate life.
B. evolution of simple life forms into more complex organisms.
C. examination of objects from space to seek evidence of non-earthly life.
D. potential uses of organic compounds not found on earth.
E. interpretation of data gathered from outer space research.

Bunuel · Answer

Official Solution:

The field of exobiology seeks to understand the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the universe. Exobiology as a discipline emerged shortly after a 1953 experiment conducted at the University of Chicago that used electricity and simple gases to produce amino acids, the building blocks of proteins and, therefore, organic life as we know it. The experiment was conducted by a biology graduate student, Stephen Miller, in the lab of Harold Urey, a scientist who was already well-known for his theories on the composition of the early earth’s atmosphere. Miller and Urey put three gases believed to have been present in the early atmosphere – methane, ammonia, and hydrogen – into a closed system with an “ocean” of water at the bottom and ran electricity through the gases to simulate the lightning storms believed common on the early earth. At the end of a week, the scientists observed that basic organic compounds, including amino acids, had formed and dissolved in the water, where some of them had even combined to form more complex, though still non-living, substances.
 
Drawing on established scientific methodologies, exobiology synthesizes data and theories from various disciplines such as biology, chemistry, and physics to explore life's potential beyond our planet. Though parts of the Miller-Urey experiment have been thrown into question by more recent discoveries, exobiology remains a small, close-knit field of dedicated scientists with backgrounds in areas as diverse as biology, chemistry and physics. Much of the current research supported by NASA, the American space agency, focuses on four major areas. The first two speculate about the evolution of compounds necessary to organic life, whether that be the development in space of “biogenic,” or life-generating compounds, or the planetary evolution of compounds that are considered “prebiotic,” or pre-living. A third area seeks to trace steps of transformation from organic compounds to simple forms of life, and a fourth studies the evolution from simple organisms to the complex and diverse forms of life found on earth today. Investigations in all four areas involve a mixture of approaches: observation of simple life-forms, such as bacteria and viruses; examination of materials from space, such as asteroids, which seem to contain evidence of life; speculation based on data gathered from telescopes and space probes; and experimentation.
 
Today, exobiology not only reflects on its foundational experiments but also actively extends into diverse research areas, directly impacting our understanding of life's potential across the universe through both historical analysis and forward-looking scientific inquiries.
 
 According to the passage, EACH of the following is an area of investigation for exobiology EXCEPT the

A. development in space of compounds that have potential to generate life.
B. evolution of simple life forms into more complex organisms.
C. examination of objects from space to seek evidence of non-earthly life.
D. potential uses of organic compounds not found on earth.
E. interpretation of data gathered from outer space research.

The answer to this question can be found by checking each statement one at a time against information stated explicitly in the passage.     Biogenic , or life-generating compounds, are mentioned in this line 
 This type of evolution is mentioned in this line ( and a fourth studies the evolution from simple organisms to the complex and diverse forms of life found on earth today ) as one of the areas of investigation for exobiology. 
 Examination of objects such as asteroids is mentioned in this line ( examination of materials from space, such as asteroids, which seem to contain evidence of life ). 
 The passage does not discuss the  potential uses of organic compounds not found on earth . 
 This area of investigation is mentioned in this line ( speculation based on data gathered from telescopes and space probes ).

Answer: D

zachstarlord · Answer

I'm somewhat confused about why C is correct. C says that exobiology lends itself from other areas of science, but the passage says that the scientists in exobiology have backgrounds in different areas of science. To me, this is not enough to say definitively that their backgrounds inform the work they do for exobiology, merely that they had previous scientific backgrounds. Am i missing something? Thank you

ShankSouljaBoi · Answer

for 1 . Does C not mean that the scientists are looking for Aliens sort of thing... and this is definitely not stated in the passsage anywhere.

Sai01 · Answer

I can understand why all the options are wrong but I could not understand why C would be correct because they were looking at objects in space for "life generating compounds" but they did not say that meant "non earthly life" because the organic compounds themselves are not life. If someone has a understanding of how to explain C please let me know

BongBideshini · Answer

bb , same doubt

bb · Answer

I am sorry to keep you waiting 🙏

Here is the sentence the supports C:  
“Exobiology remains a small, close‐knit field of dedicated scientists with backgrounds in areas as diverse as biology, chemistry, and physics.”

You noticed NASA‐backed researchers look for “biogenic compounds” in space rocks, but wondered how that proves C. Remember, choice (C) is about interdisciplinary methods, not about where life might be found. The quoted sentence states above that the scientists themselves come from chemistry and physics as well as biology—that’s all you need to identify C.

bumpbot · Answer

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