A student was simulating Urey and Millers experiment to prove the origin of life. The set up used by the student is given

(a) Find out the reasons why he could not get desired results. (b) What conclusion was drawn by Urey and Miller through this experiment?

(c) Compare the conclusion drawn with the theory of spontaneous generation.

Urey and Miller performed an experiment to prove that earth’s primitive atmosphere was sufficient to produce amino acids. In this experiment they created an atmosphere similar to earth’s primitive environment within a closed chamber.

(a)He could not get desired results because:

1. Hydrogen was used instead of oxygen.

2. Temperature was maintained at 80 degree Celsius instead of 8000 degree Celsius.

(b)At the end of the experiment organic compounds such as aldehydes, amino acids etc. were obtained. This proved that many organic compounds could be obtained within the earth’s primitive environment.

(c)In the experiment performed by Urey and Miller, inside a chamber earth’s primitive atmosphere was created. Gases such as methane, hydrogen and ammonia were inserted and temperature was raised to 80 degree Celsius.At the end of the experiment organic compounds such as aldehydes, amino acids etc. were obtained. This proved that many organic compounds could be obtained within the earth’s primitive environment.

Whereas theory of spontaneous generation stated that various life forms were transferred to different planets.