The first non-cellular form of life could have originated ____ billion years back

Options

A. 3
B. 8
C. 10
D. 1

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Timeline of Life**: The question asks about the origin of the first non-cellular form of life. To answer this, we need to understand the timeline of the universe and Earth.

2. **Formation of the Universe**: The universe is believed to have formed approximately 13.8 billion years ago due to the Big Bang. This is an important context for understanding the timeline of life.

3. **Age of Earth**: Earth itself is estimated to be around 4.5 billion years old. This indicates that life could not have originated until after the formation of Earth.

4. **Origin of Non-Cellular Life**: It is widely accepted that the first non-cellular forms of life originated around 3 billion years ago. This refers to the early organic molecules that formed in the primordial conditions of Earth.

5. **Definition of Non-Cellular Life**: Non-cellular life refers to large biomolecules such as RNA, proteins, and polysaccharides that existed before the development of cellular structures. These molecules are considered the precursors to cellular life.

6. **Conclusion**: Based on the timeline and understanding of early life forms, we can conclude that the first non-cellular form of life could have originated approximately 3 billion years ago.

**Final Answer**: The first non-cellular form of life could have originated **3 billion years back**.

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