The Miller Experiment: An Abiotic Synthesis of Organic Molecules
Stanley Miller and Harold Urey used an apparatus similar to this one to simulate chemical dynamics onthe primitive Earth. A warmed flask of water simulated the primeval sea. The "atmosphere" consisted of H2O, H2, CH4, and NH3. Sparks were discharged in the synthetic atmosphere to mimic lightning. A condenser cooled the atmosphere, raining water and any dissolved compounds back to the miniature sea. As material circulated through the apparatus, the solution in the flask changed from clear to murky brown. After one week, Miller and Urey analyed the contents of the solution and found a variety of organic compounds, including some of the amino acids that make up the proteins of organisms. (Campbell)
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