Final answer:
Urey and Miller conducted an experiment to simulate early Earth conditions, leading to the formation of amino acids, as a possible origin of life scenario.
Step-by-step explanation:
Urey and Miller subjected water, ammonia, methane, and hydrogen to heating and cooling cycles and jolts of electricity in an experiment designed to simulate the conditions of early Earth for the origin of life. Their goal was to test if organic molecules could form from inorganic precursors believed to exist very early in Earth's history.
This experiment was based on the hypothesis that the early Earth's atmosphere, thought to contain ammonia, methane, water vapor, and hydrogen, allowed organic molecules to form when subjected to lightning or ultraviolet light. When Urey and Miller conducted their experiment, they found that these conditions were indeed conducive to the formation of amino acids, which are crucial to the development of life.