Question

The Stanley Miller apparatus demonstrated that organic molecules could assemble spontaneously in an environment lacking free oxygen and containing water, methane, and ammonia in the presence of an abundant energy source, such as an electric discharge. The research was considered supportive of the organic soup hypothesis, which states that the primitive atmosphere provided inorganic precursors from which organic molecules could have been synthesized in the presence of an energy source. Based on subsequent research, the primordial atmosphere was determined to contain less methane and more carbon dioxide. The new data about the composition of the early atmosphere had which of the following effects on the origin-of-life hypothesis?

a) Miller's work was discarded as not relevant to an origin- of-life hypothesis
b) Miller's work was used to refute the new hypothesis about the composition of the atmosphere
c) The organic soup hypothesis was abandoned as no longer being supportable
d) A new organic soup hypothesis was proposed to account for the new data about the atmosphere

Answer 1

The correct answer is D. A new organic soup hypothesis was proposed to account for the new data about the atmosphere

Step-by-step explanation:

Stanely Miller's experiment supported the organic soup hypothesis because he proved organic molecules formed in conditions that resemble those of primitive Earth and therefore first forms of life emerged from elements in the atmosphere and energy as stated in the organic soup hypothesis.

However, this experiment and subsequent ones showed the elements that were the basis of life were slightly different or existed in different amounts to the ones first proposed. Due to this, even if Miller's experiment supported the hypothesis, the new data related to the atmosphere lead to adjustments and changes in the organic soup hypothesis. Thus, the new data affected the origin-on-life hypothesis as "a new organic soup hypothesis was proposed to account for the new data about the atmosphere".