Final answer:
Coacervates are sickle-cell like structures that could have given rise to cellular life. They have an outer membrane and can self-assemble from macromolecules. Coacervates are considered to be precursors of biological membranes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The structures being referred to in the question are coacervates. Coacervates are aggregates of macromolecules, such as proteins or nucleic acids, that form droplets in an aqueous solution. They have a semipermeable outer membrane and are believed to be precursors to cellular life.
In the prebiotic chemistry set, coacervates, along with other structures like proteinoid microspheres and liposomes, have been considered as potential progenitors of biological membranes. These structures can be made in the laboratory and exhibit properties of semipermeability and even replication.
Coacervates or similar structures would have played a crucial role in the origin of life, forming the basis for cellular organization and the development of more complex structures over time.