Abiogenesis - Urey - Miller re-examined

One of the most famous experiments of all time has just been found to have been even more successful than anyone realised. The Miller-Urey spark flask experiment could hold the key to the origin of life on Earth.

Jeffrey Bada of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in California and colleagues re-analysed the original 50-year-old samples left by Stanley Miller of the University of Chicago, in 1953 and 1954. His was the first experiment ever to produce amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, from inorganic molecules and a spark of electricity.

Bada's team discovered more organic molecules than Miller had been able to detect, and also showed that a secondary experiment one that Miller carried out but never published offers the best clue to how life on Earth began some 4 billion years ago.

In the classic Miller-Urey experiment, a mixture of gases and water that Miller thought were present on early Earth was heated and zapped with electricity to mimic lightning. This created five identifiable amino acids.

Yet Miller tested three versions of his spark flask. One of the two lesser-know setups the volcanic apparatus created 22 amino acids that could be positively identified

"The experiment not only produced a richer mix of amino acids but many of the amino acids are ones that have never been detected in a simulated early Earth experiment," says Bada.

What's more, "many of these other amino acids have hydroxyl groups attached to them, meaning they would be more reactive and more likely to create totally new molecules, given enough time", adds Adam Johnson of Indiana University, who collaborated on the project.

http://environment.newscientist.com/article/dn14966

Category:

Education

Tags:

• evolution
• abiogenesis
• creation
• intelligent
• design
• urey
• miller
• amino
• acid

[magick205]

@nottebaccio: But then again, that was not the point of Miller-Urey; it was to test Oparin's hypothesis of organics formation. Which it did, quite successfully.

[treytrey3]

Ah, but it did produce amino acids. And with amino acids, the simplest cells can be produced using simple fatty acids for the cell membrane instead of modern phospholipids. And those fatty acids spontaneously form vesicles. And those vesicles let in organic material allowing those amino acids to develop. Then you get the first self replicating, eating, growing, information storing, evolving cells.

And that, my friend, is life.

[AndyG792]

@treytrey3 Well, it take more than that for life. If you start out with once living cells with all the ingredients for life, you can't make it life again. Life is more than a few amino acids that are both L and R handed, as they happen naturally. They have to be all Left handed for life to exist, which indicates and intelligence with power. Also, that first living cell would have to have the DNA and RNA along with the little machines that assemble the proteins as well as other things

[Equestions]

@tarrin4ever Well maybe we can hook up one of these days and throw things around. I like the discussions! I may also call the show and talk to DonE. He's been dodging my question as to what chemical scientific evidence there is that a cold blooded animal became a warm blooded animal. Can't get him to answer me on that one. I will, however, avoid mentioning the pinecones. HAHAHA!!! That was pretty funny tarrin! Love it.

[Equestions]

@tarrin4ever Well we can argue about that another time but unless it's testable and observable in todays world it's not real science. Making assumptions and pretending that it would have probably happened that way is a religion, not science.

[tarrin4ever]

@Equestions I'm assuming you're referring to audio/video, akin to blogtv or something? Alas, I'm currently without the means or the opportunity to do so.

I do thank you for the invitation. Perhaps at a future date, when I possess the technology and the available time. Which is why I strongly encourage you to participate in the LoR show, their venue will provide you a proper environment to voice your thoughts and exchange information/ideas.

Just don't bring up pinecones. Heh.

[tarrin4ever]

@Equestions It's not what I want it to be, its what science tells us it would be. The smallest single celled organism today is still to complex to have rapidly jump outta chemical compounts into the form it is today.

The simple molecules had to develop over time (a long time, especially for creationists). Subsequent generations took on differing characteristics, and increase in their complexity. And studies find this to be accurate, (again, see video linked above).

It is real science.

[Equestions]

@Equestions I'm simply asking you to be fair and use common sense and logic in our conversations. I don't think that's asking too much. Maybe you and I should debate? Would you be up for that?

[Equestions]

@tarrin4ever Now you're leaving logic and entering what you want it to be. Just look at the evidence in front of you. That's all I'm asking you to do. Don't ASSUME anything which is common by the evolutionists. Miller created a substance which is not conducive to life as we know it. It's not fair to 'assume' that it would have been different for early life! That is NOT real science! They're simply bending things to make it fit what they want it to fit but the evidence says nothing of the sort.

[tarrin4ever]

@Equestions On the contrary, the LoR would very much welcome your discussion. Given Neph is a dishonest and conniving sneak of a man, you'd be much better suited to handle these type of discussion.

Besides, we both know that Don is more than willing to talk to anyone who comes on that show. After all, hasn't he been doing this very thing every other Sunday for a month or so now? It's not like he's gonna jump off the air the moment one of you calls him up. You're not that deluded, are you?

[tarrin4ever]

@Equestions The problem with racemic mixes, with amino acids and polymers of incorrect orientation is a problem for "current" biological life. Scientists know this, and propose the possibility that early replicating molecules would rise to the occasion none the less.

Competition between the early molecules would have ordered the way future biological life functions. See the work by Dr. Szostak, which one of youtube's resident scientists was nice enough to compile. /watch?v=U6QYDdgP9eg

[Equestions]

@Equestions anything nor did it really produce something that could be construed as a makeup for actual life. Quit holding on to your religion and open your mind a little bit. Feel free to follow your property lawyer but never stop asking questions when things don't make sense. BTW - I like the debate idea but we've tried that already and DonExodus ran away scared and doesn't want to debate anymore. Maybe Case would want to? Neph might be up for that.