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 ami
acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Which conclusion about the origin of life on Earth is MOST STRONGLY supported by the Mi
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:

The answer is B. Some organic molecules, including amino acids, could have been produced from chemical reactions on early Earth.

Explanation:

Miller-Urey Experiment:

The Miller-Urey experiment was an attempt to explain the origin of life on Earth. Miller-Urey simulated the primordial soup i.e. the environment of primitive Earth to prove the spontaneous generation of organic molecules. The conditions they introduced included:

1. A methane-ammonia-hydrogen and water mixture that exactly simulated the primordial soup.
2. A spark of 70,000 volts that simulated lightening.
3. A temperature of 800 degree Celsius.

Observations:

• After running for 18 days, the final solution was examined for presence of organic molecules.
• Miller-Urey observed that most of the methane and ammonia had been consumed and the mixture contained carbon monoxide and nitrogen.
• The solution further contained 25 amino acids (mainly, glycine, alanine and aspartic acid) , several fatty acids , hydroxy acids  and amide products.

The experiment concluded that simple organic compounds such as amino acids could have been formed through spontaneous generation under the Earth's primitive environmental conditions.