Incorrect Characteristic of Protobionts

In the abiogenic origin of life, protobionts such as coacervates and microspheres are considered as the first step towards the emergence of life. They possess certain characteristics that are crucial for their survival and evolution. Among the given options, the incorrect characteristic of protobionts is:

a) They were able to reproduce

Explanation

The other two characteristics of protobionts are correct:

They could separate combinations of molecules from the surroundings: Protobionts were able to selectively absorb and retain certain molecules from the environment, while excluding others. This property led to the concentration of organic molecules inside the protobionts, which could have facilitated the origin of metabolic pathways and other biological processes.

They were partially isolated from the surroundings: Protobionts were enclosed in a boundary that separated them from the external environment. This boundary could have been formed by the self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules (such as lipids), which spontaneously form bilayer structures in water. The boundary allowed protobionts to maintain a stable internal environment that was different from the external environment.

However, protobionts were not capable of reproduction in the strict sense of the term. Reproduction involves the production of offspring that inherit genetic information from their parent(s). Protobionts did not have a genetic material (such as DNA or RNA) that could be replicated and transmitted to the next generation. Therefore, the term "reproduction" is not applicable to protobionts. Instead, they could undergo growth and division, which led to the formation of daughter protobionts that were similar to the parent protobiont in terms of their composition and structure.

Conclusion

In summary, the incorrect characteristic of protobionts is that they were able to reproduce. Protobionts were able to selectively absorb and retain certain molecules from the environment and were partially isolated from the surroundings. They could undergo growth and division, but did not have a genetic material that could be replicated and transmitted to the next generation.