35. Intext question XXIV

 

The Miller-Urey Griffith's experiment provided evidence for the origin of life from inanimate matter. They created an atmosphere in the experiment that contained molecules such as ammonia, methane, and hydrogen sulphide but no oxygenhydrogen. This atmosphere was similar to that of the primitive Earth. The temperature was kept constant at 100°C60°C, and sparks were passed through the mixture to stimulate lightning. After a certain period of time, a portion of the carbon in methane had been converted to simple carbon compounds such as amino acids. Amino acids are the precursors of lipidsproteins, and these are the molecules that support life in its most basic form.