Final answer:
The presence of extremophiles, organisms that live in extreme environments, supports the view that life could have originated under the harsh conditions of early Earth, which is true. This notion is aligned with Darwinian evolution, explaining life's adaptability to various environments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that life may have arisen and existed under the harsh primitive conditions of early Earth is true. The existence of extremophiles today, which are organisms that thrive in extreme environments of high acidity, temperature, and salinity, supports this possibility.
These conditions would have been similar to the extreme environments found on the early Earth, characterized by strong radiation, volcanic activity, and a lack of oxygen in the atmosphere, making it challenging for life as we typically understand it to survive.
Darwinian evolution provides a framework for understanding how life could adapt to such conditions. The concept of natural selection suggests that organisms best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. Over time, this could lead to the emergence of life forms capable of withstanding the harsh conditions of early Earth. Moreover, the study of extremophiles has expanded our understanding of life's limits and has made the scientific community more optimistic about the possibility of life existing beyond Earth.
Therefore, the study of extremophiles and the history of life on Earth, together with Darwinian evolutionary theory, provide compelling evidence that life could indeed have started under the vastly different and extreme conditions of the ancient Earth.