What was the result of S.L. Miller's 1953 experiment?a)Proved the theo...
Overview of S.L. Miller's 1953 Experiment
In 1953, Stanley Miller conducted a groundbreaking experiment that simulated the conditions thought to resemble those of early Earth. This experiment was pivotal in understanding the origins of life.
Key Objectives
- To investigate the possibility of synthesizing organic compounds under prebiotic conditions.
- To explore the formation of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins.
Experimental Setup
- Miller used a closed apparatus containing water, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen.
- He subjected these gases to electrical sparks to simulate lightning, creating energy that could drive chemical reactions.
Results
- After one week of continuous sparking, Miller analyzed the mixture and discovered several organic compounds.
- Notably, he identified amino acids such as glycine and alanine, which are essential components of proteins.
Significance of Findings
- Miller's experiment demonstrated that the basic building blocks of life could form from simple inorganic compounds under conditions similar to those of early Earth.
- It provided strong support for the hypothesis that organic molecules could develop spontaneously, contributing to the theory of abiogenesis.
Conclusion
- The correct answer to the question regarding Miller's experiment is option 'B', as it successfully showed the formation of amino acids under simulated early Earth conditions.
- This experiment laid the foundation for future research into the origins of life and the biochemical processes that may have led to the emergence of living organisms on Earth.
What was the result of S.L. Miller's 1953 experiment?a)Proved the theo...
In 1953, S.L. Miller conducted an experiment where he created conditions similar to early Earth with a mixture of gases and electrical discharges. This resulted in the formation of amino acids, supporting the idea of chemical evolution as a precursor to the origin of life.
Topic in NCERT: Origin of life
Line in NCERT: "he created electric discharge in a closed flask containing ch4, h2, nh3 and water vapour at 800°c. he observed formation of amino acids."