Carolina Investigations® for Use with AP® Biology: Origin of Life

Students explore the origin of life as they create coacervates, which provide evidence about how life may have formed on Earth. In the Guided Investigation, students follow a procedure to create coacervates, phospholipid vesicles similar to those created in the laboratory by Alexander Oparin in the 1920s as he investigated the origin of life. In the Inquiry Investigation, students explore the life-like properties of coacervates through an experimental question of their own design. Kit includes enough materials for 8 groups.

Unit Connection
Unit 7: Natural Selection, topic 7.13: Origin of Life on Earth

Standards Connection
SYI-3 Naturally occurring diversity among and between components within biological systems affects interactions with the environment.

Time Requirements
60 minutes of preparation before the Pre-Lab and 30 minutes of preparation before both the Guided Investigation and the Inquiry Investigation. The Pre-Lab and Guided Investigation will each take approximately 45 minutes. The time required for the Inquiry Investigation will vary based on students' plans.

Digital Resources
Includes 1-year access to digital resources that support instruction. Digital resources may include teacher manual and student guide, pre-lab activities and setup videos, simulations, and post-lab analysis and assessments.

Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills
Students should be familiar with organic molecules, including monomers and polymers, microscope use, cell membrane structure and selective permeability, the defining characteristics of living organisms, calculations involving pH and concentration of hydrogen ions, and the differences between the evolution and the origin of life.

AP® is a trademark registered and/or owned by the College Board®, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.