Refer to the figure below showing a cutaway view of a protocell, a structure representing a possible intermediate in the evolution of living cells from nonliving molecular building blocks. The structure of a protocell has several effects on the molecules present in its interior.One effect of the protocell structure that could have accelerated the evolution process was
A) concentrating compounds and increasing their frequencies of collision.
B) reducing waste and decreasing the risk of toxic compound buildup.
C) increasing access to small molecules in the environment surrounding the structure.
D) providing the necessary functional groups needed for catalytic activity.
E) creating a template that could be used to transfer biological information.

Question

Refer to the figure below showing a cutaway view of a protocell, a structure representing a possible intermediate in the evolution of living cells from nonliving molecular building blocks.  The structure of a protocell has several effects on the molecules present in its interior.One effect of the protocell structure that could have accelerated the evolution process was
A) concentrating compounds and increasing their frequencies of collision. 
B) reducing waste and decreasing the risk of toxic compound buildup. 
C) increasing access to small molecules in the environment surrounding the structure. 
D) providing the necessary functional groups needed for catalytic activity. 
E) creating a template that could be used to transfer biological information.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The protocell structure would have created a confined space that concentrated molecules and increased their probabilities of colliding with each other, which would have accelerated chemical reactions and potentially accelerated the evolution process. This concentration effect is similar to the function of enzymes in living cells, which increase reaction rates by bringing reactants into close proximity with each other.

Refer to the Figure Below Showing a Cutaway View of a Protocell