Exam 26: Astrobiology

What are the "rungs" of a DNA spiral made up of?

In all living things on Earth, the chemical reactions making, breaking, and combining carbon chains take place in _______________ within the cell of living organisms.

Why do astronomers narrow their search to the "habitable zone" of other star systems?

When deciphered correctly, an anticoded message ultimately becomes ____.

The formula proposed for determining the number of technological civilizations in the Milky Way Galaxy with which we might communicate, is known as the _______________.

Which moon is rich in organic molecules but too cold to support chemical evolution?

If we have the technology to transmit messages, then why can't we "carry on a conversation" with an alien civilization?

As Earth evolved with life, an oxygen abundance of only 0.1 percent would have created a(n) _______________, protecting organisms from the Sun's ultraviolet radiation.

What period of Earth's geologic history saw a dramatic increase in life?

What is the function of proteins?

Which type of main-sequence star(s) is a good candidate for searching Earth-like planets with life?

Genes are organized into long coiled chains called _______________.

What did astronomers use in the anticoded message sent to globular cluster M13?

In 1974, astronomers sent an anticoded message as a string of 1679 _______________ and _______________.

Half the stars in the Milky Way Galaxy are members of a binary system, many of which are likely to support life on planets.

What is the radio window astronomers use to search for alien transmitted communication? What is this window nicknamed?

What would a civilization within 60 light-years away be able to detect from Earth?

When a cell divides, only one cell gets the original DNA molecules.

What part of a cell stores the coded information?

In 1974, astronomers broadcasted a radio message of greeting towards the globular cluster M13, 25,000 light-years away.