Question

below are several sentences to describe one of the four stages of the origins of life. choose those that describe the iron-sulfur world hypothesis and place them in the correct order in the boxes provided. some choices will not be used.

Explanation:

1. First, the Iron - sulfur world hypothesis starts with dissolved gases (NH₃, CO, H₂) rising from thermal vents, reacting with Fe and Ni to form metallic sulfides (which act as catalysts for organic molecule production).
2. Then, organic molecules react with these metallic sulfides at thermal vents to produce peptides.
3. Next, peptides and other organic polymers become enclosed in a membrane to form a protocell.
4. Finally, probionts (protocells) gain the ability to self - replicate. The other options (about shallow sea - side pools and RNA evolution) are not part of the Iron - sulfur world hypothesis.

Answer:

1. Dissolved gases such as $\ce{NH_3}$, $\ce{CO}$, and $\ce{H_2}$ rise from thermal vents and pass over $\ce{Fe}$ and $\ce{Ni}$ forming metallic sulfides. These metallic sulfides act as catalysts and drive the production of organic molecules.
2. Organic molecules react with metallic sulfides at thermal vents to produce peptides.
3. Peptides and other organic polymers become enclosed within a membrane to form a protocell.
4. Probionts gain the ability to self - replicate.