Question

In the Miller-Urey experiment, electrical sparks were passed through a mixture of gases, including hydrogen, water vapor, methane, and ammonia. These gases were thought to be present in the atmosphere of early Earth. The results showed that the gases reacted to form amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Which conclusion about the origin of life on Earth is MOST STRONGLY supported by the Miller-Urey experiment?
A. All organic molecules, including amino acids, were produced from chemical reactions on early Earth.
B. Some organic molecules, including amino acids, could have been produced from chemical reactions on early Earth.
C. Complex organic molecules, such as proteins, could not have been produced from chemical reactions on early Earth.
D. Complex organic molecules, such as proteins, could have been produced from chemical reactions on early Earth.

Answer 1

Answer:

B - Some organic molecules, including amino acids, could have been produced from chemical reactions on early Earth

Explanation:

The Miller-Urey experiment was a chemical experiment that attempted to recreate the chemical conditions present on early earth, and used these conditions to try to decipher how life on earth came about.

Their experiment showed that  simple organic compounds (i.e. amino acids) that represent the building blocks of complex macromolecules (i.e. proteins) could be formed from this experimental set up with the addition of energy. This showed the minimal features required to form life.