AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -One week later Miller and Urey found that simple organic molecules, including amino acids (the building blocks of proteins), had formed under the simulated conditions of early Earth.

Detailed explanation-2: -In his May 15, 1953, article in Science, “A Production of Amino Acids Under Possible Primitive Earth Conditions, ” Miller identified just five amino acids: aspartic acid, glycine, alpha-amino-butyric acid, and two versions of alanine. Aspartic acid, glycine and alanine are common constituents of natural proteins.

Detailed explanation-3: -The purpose was to test the idea that the complex molecules of life (in this case, amino acids) could have arisen on our young planet through simple, natural chemical reactions. The experiment was a success in that amino acids, the building blocks of life, were produced during the simulation.

Detailed explanation-4: -Large, complex molecules like DNA and protein were missing, but the Miller-Urey experiment showed that at least some of the building blocks for these molecules could form spontaneously from simple compounds.