Question

In 1953, S. L. Miller created primitive earth conditions in the laboratory and gave experimental evidence for origin of first form of life from pre-existing non-living organic molecules. In your opinion what primitive earth conditions he created.

Answer 1

In 1953, Stanley L. Miller created in the laboratory the probable primitive earth conditions to experimentally demonstrate the origin of the first form of life from pre-existing non-living organic molecules. The primitive earth conditions he recreated included:

• A reducing atmosphere composed mainly of gases like methane (CH₄), ammonia (NH₃), hydrogen (H₂), and water vapor (H₂O), similar to what was believed to be the early Earth's atmosphere.
• High temperature, simulating volcanic heat and other thermal activities on primitive Earth.
• Energy input in the form of electric discharges between electrodes to simulate lightning storms, presumed to be common on the early Earth.
• A closed system where these gases and water vapor were circulated and exposed to the energy sources continuously for several days.
• Cooling and condensation of gases to form liquid water, representing the primordial ocean where organic synthesis could occur.

Using this setup, the spark-discharge apparatus, Miller and Urey showed that complex organic molecules such as amino acids (glycine, alanine, aspartic acid) and other compounds could be synthesized abiotically from simple inorganic gases under these conditions. This experiment thus supported the hypothesis that life could have originated from non-living molecules on the early Earth due to the chemical evolution under those primitive conditions.