A scientist is studying an organism that is similar to early life on Earth. The scientist observes structures form in the organism that appear as oily spheres with an inner fluid.

Question

A scientist is studying an organism that is similar to early life on Earth. The scientist observes structures form in the organism that appear as oily spheres with an inner fluid.

Of which type of macromolecule is the sphere made?

1. carbohydrate
2. lipid
3. nucleic acid
4. protein

Answer 1

Hi John Y,

Since the spheres are oily in nature and form an inner fluid, it suggests it has hydrophobic properties. Hydrophobic means "water fearing" or excluding themselves from water.

Additionally, early life on Earth did not contain oxygen and had high methane levels, thus only microbes existed. The lack of oxygen in this environment provided a non-polarized atmosphere. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic.

Due to the hydrophobic properties exhibited, the organisms similarity to early life on Earth that lacked oxygen leading to non-polarization, the macromolecule of the sphere would have to be a Lipid.

-Danielle