25 points
which of the following represents one of the steps through which simple cells are hypothesized to have been produced?

a abiotic synthesis of small organic molecules

b formation of nitrogenous bases from amino acids

c joining of self-replicating molecules into protocells

d packaging of inorganic macromolecules into vesicles

C. Joining of self-replication molecules into protocells.

Explanation:

For the origin of life, at least three conditions are needed.  

The radiation received from the sun on the early earth must have fulfilled the requirement of mutation. The mutation is necessary for bringing variation in the genetic material thus driving evolution. To protect the self-replicating molecules from the external environment and to keep them together, the molecules must have been enclosed in a membrane barrier, which should be selectively semipermeable, to facilitate the exchange of molecules.

it provides an alternative energy pathway for the reaction to proceed.

a catalyst is a substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction but is not consumed during the course of the reaction.

catalysts increase the rate of reaction without being used up. they do this by lowering the activation energy needed. with a catalyst, more collisions result in a reaction, so the rate of reaction increases. different reactions need different catalysts.

a catalyst works by providing an alternative reaction pathway to the reaction product. the rate of the reaction is increased as this alternative route has a lower activation energy than the reaction route not mediated by the catalyst.

very