Ask a Teacher

Experiments conducted by Stanley L Miller and Harold C Urey in 1953 provide some light for the origin of life from inanimate matter.

They assembled an atmosphere similar to that thought to exist on early earth [that had molecule like ammonia (NH3), methane (CH4) and hydrogen sulphite, but no oxygen] over water. They maintained the mixture of these gases just below 100oC and passed sparks to stimulate lightning.

At the end of a weak, 15% of the carbon (from methane) had been converted to simple compounds of carbon including amino acids which make up protein molecules. It indicates the possibility of origin of life from inanimate matter on the earth, when atmosphere was reducing (containing no free oxygen), containing gases like methane, ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, frequent lightning and

enough water was present. Simple amino acids which are building blocks of proteins might have given rise to complex molecules that are building blocks of cells.

The origin of life from inanimiate matter is not at all possible today because

(i) Atmosphere contains free oxygen which causes break down of molecules necessary for origin of life.

(ii) The conditions which existed on early earth cannot be regenerated.