Name: Evidence of Evolution: Concepts of Biology
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 11 min 22 s
Description: The evidence for evolution is found at all levels of organisation in living things and in the extinct species we know about through fossils. Learn more.

Question

Describe S.L Miller's experiment. Comment on the observations he made and his contribution towards the origin of life on Earth.

Accepted Answer

Stanely Miller in 1953 demonstrated that ultraviolet radiation or electric discharges or heat or a combination of these can produce complex organic compounds from a mixture of methane, ammonia, hydrogen and water vapour. The ratio of methane, ammonia and hydrogen is 2:1:2.

Miller created electric discharge in a closed flask, containing methane, ammonia, hydrogen and water vapour at 800°C in a laboratory. He observed the formation of the organic compound, i.e., amino acids. He proved the theory of abiogenesis, i.e., the first form of life arose slowly through an evolutionary process from non-living molecules. The formation of life was preceded by chemical evolution or the formation of diverse organic molecules from inorganic constituents

Observations:-

He observed the formation of amino acids.

In similar experiments, others observed the formation of sugars, nitrogen bases, pigments and fats.

This experiment gave the theory of abiogenesis, i.e, the first form of life arose slowly through evolutionary forces from non - living molecules.

Describe S.L Miller's experiment. Comment on the observations he made and his contribution towards the origin of life on Earth.

Important Questions on Evolution

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