What evidence do we have for the origin of life from inanimate matter (lifeless matter)?


The evidence for the origin of life from lifeless matter was given by Stanley Miller and Harold Urey in 1953. They recreated the probable conditions of primitive atmosphere of early earth and demonstrated that simple organic compound like amino acids, hydroxyl acids, sugars and urea can by synthesized in the laboratory from a mixture of methane, hydrogen, water vapor and ammonia. They supplied energy by heating the chamber containing the above mixture to 800 degree C and discharges by electric sparks. After about one week, the liquid was found to contain a number of amino acids such as glycine, alanine and aspartic acid. Amino acids make up proteins molecules in living organisms. Thus, the experiment is a evidence that life originated from inanimate matter.


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