Final answer:
The statement `The earliest cells probably originated about 4 billion years ago` is TRUE.
Step-by-step explanation:
The earliest cells are believed to have originated approximately 4 billion years ago.
Here's some information to support this answer:
- 1. Fossil evidence: The oldest known fossils of prokaryotic cells, such as bacteria and archaea, date back around 3.5 to 3.8 billion years. These ancient fossils provide evidence of early life forms on Earth.
- 2. Geological evidence: Scientists have found rocks that contain isotopic evidence of ancient microbial life dating back to about 3.8 billion years. This indicates the presence of cells at that time.
- 3. Early Earth conditions: The Earth's environment during its early history, around 4 billion years ago, provided suitable conditions for the emergence of life. This included the presence of liquid water, organic molecules, and energy sources like lightning or volcanic activity.
- 4. Miller-Urey experiment: In 1952, Stanley Miller and Harold Urey conducted an experiment that simulated early Earth conditions and produced organic compounds, including amino acids, which are the building blocks of life. This experiment suggested that the basic components necessary for life could have been present on Earth billions of years ago.
While the exact timing and origin of the earliest cells are still subject to ongoing research and study, the evidence currently supports the idea that cells likely originated around 4 billion years ago.
Your question is incomplete, but most probably the full question was:
Determine TRUE/FALSE
The earliest cells probably originated about 4 billion years ago