AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Miller’s experiment mimicked lightning by the action of an electric discharge on a mixture of gases representing the early atmosphere, in the presence of a liquid water reservoir, representing the early oceans.

Detailed explanation-2: -Working with his professor, Harold Urey, Miller designed an apparatus to simulate the ancient water cycle. Together they put in water to model the ancient ocean. It was gently boiled to mimic evaporation. Along with water vapor, for gasses of the atmosphere they chose methane, hydrogen, and ammonia.

Detailed explanation-3: -But to refresh your memory: in 1952 Stanley Miller and Harold Urey simulated the conditions of early Earth by sealing water, methane, ammonia and hydrogen in a glass flask. Then they applied electrical sparks to the mixture. Miraculously, amino acids came into existence amid the roiling mixture.

Detailed explanation-4: -The Miller-Urey experiment provided the first evidence that organic molecules needed for life could be formed from inorganic components. Some scientists support the RNA world hypothesis, which suggests that the first life was self-replicating RNA.

Detailed explanation-5: -In their famous experiment, Miller and Urey replicated the early Earth atmosphere with a mixture of methane, hydrogen, ammonia and water vapor. This mixture, along with some “sparks” which simulated lightning, led to the formation of amino acids.