The first non-cellular form of life could have originated about ______ years ago.

Options

A. 3 million
B. 2 million
C. 3 billion
D. 2 billion

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Question**: The question asks about the origin of the first non-cellular form of life.

2. **Historical Context**: The Earth is estimated to have formed around 4 billion years ago. This provides a timeframe for when life could potentially have originated.

3. **Origin of Life**: The first cellular life is believed to have appeared approximately 3.5 billion years ago. This indicates that life began in a non-cellular form before evolving into cellular organisms.

4. **Non-Cellular Life**: The first non-cellular forms of life likely included simple organic molecules such as RNA, proteins, and polysaccharides. These molecules are crucial for the development of life.

5. **Estimation of Non-Cellular Life Origin**: Based on the information, it is estimated that the first non-cellular life originated around 3 billion years ago.

6. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the correct answer to the question is that the first non-cellular form of life could have originated about **3 billion years ago**.

**Final Answer**: 3 billion years ago.

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