Chapter 18, Problem 13A

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The argument to support that the bacteria re the first living organism on earth.

Introduction:

The bacteria are the single cellular prokaryotic organism. They lack a true nucleus and have a very simple cellular design. They are known to be existing since life begin on the earth. Some of the bacteria are free-living, but many of them are parasitic and commensal in nature.

Explanation of Solution

The bacteria show a very primitive cellular organization. Their cells consist of genetic material ribosomes and the cell membrane along with a cell wall in some of them. They are prokaryotes, which means they lack nuclear membrane. This gives an idea that bacteria are none other than organized living organism having basic components of survival. They lack any of the cellular adaptations that would lead to complexity, which makes scientists to rely they were the first living organism.