Urey and Miller Experiment
1.1.4/1.2.1 UREY and MILLER
Description
Reason
Result
Nature & practice of Science
Contribution to theories of origin of life
Water, methane, ammonia and hydrogen were sealed inside sterile glass tubes and flasks connected in a loop (the atmosphere). One flask was half-full of water and the other contained a pair of electrodes. The water was heated to evaporation (the oceans); sparks were fired between the electrodes (lightning) through the atmosphere and water vapour. It was then cooled again so the water could condense and trickle back into the first flask
To verify whether it was possible for organic molecules to have formed from inorganic molecules in a reducing and energy-rich environment similar to early Earth
Numerous organic molecules (amino acids)were produced in the simulated conditions
1. QUESTION - Scientists question whether life could originate on ancient primitive Earth.
2. HYPOTHESIS - 1923 Haldane & Oparin propose hypothesis that life originated as simple molecules followed by cells - conduct simple experiments that show that organic compounds can form cell-like structures
3. EXPERIMENTATION - 1953 Urey and Miller collaborate effectively to design an experiment/model to simulate conditions on early Earth and test the hypothesis that life molecules could originate on Earth
4. RESULTS - Urey and Miller results confirm that simple organic compounds (amino acids) could form from the conditions on early Earth
5. ASSESS EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN, MODIFY EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN - 2009 Sutherland assesses the design of the Urey and Miller experiment and modifies the design of the experiment, adding UV radiation to the atmospheric conditions. Improved results are obtained with amino acids and the nucleic acid RNA are formed
6. All are evidence that theory of life originating on earth could be correct
Support for Haldane and Oparin’s theories about how the first organic molecules could have formed here on Earth
Description
Reason
Result
Nature & practice of Science
Contribution to theories of origin of life
Water, methane, ammonia and hydrogen were sealed inside sterile glass tubes and flasks connected in a loop (the atmosphere). One flask was half-full of water and the other contained a pair of electrodes. The water was heated to evaporation (the oceans); sparks were fired between the electrodes (lightning) through the atmosphere and water vapour. It was then cooled again so the water could condense and trickle back into the first flask
To verify whether it was possible for organic molecules to have formed from inorganic molecules in a reducing and energy-rich environment similar to early Earth
Numerous organic molecules (amino acids)were produced in the simulated conditions
1. QUESTION - Scientists question whether life could originate on ancient primitive Earth.
2. HYPOTHESIS - 1923 Haldane & Oparin propose hypothesis that life originated as simple molecules followed by cells - conduct simple experiments that show that organic compounds can form cell-like structures
3. EXPERIMENTATION - 1953 Urey and Miller collaborate effectively to design an experiment/model to simulate conditions on early Earth and test the hypothesis that life molecules could originate on Earth
4. RESULTS - Urey and Miller results confirm that simple organic compounds (amino acids) could form from the conditions on early Earth
5. ASSESS EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN, MODIFY EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN - 2009 Sutherland assesses the design of the Urey and Miller experiment and modifies the design of the experiment, adding UV radiation to the atmospheric conditions. Improved results are obtained with amino acids and the nucleic acid RNA are formed
6. All are evidence that theory of life originating on earth could be correct
Support for Haldane and Oparin’s theories about how the first organic molecules could have formed here on Earth