Final answer:
Amino acids are organic molecules that form proteins in living organisms. The formation of amino acids in laboratory conditions similar to early Earth provides insight into the origin of life on Earth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Amino acids are organic molecules that contain an amine functional group (-NH₂), a carboxylic acid functional group (-COOH), and a side chain (that is specific to each individual amino acid). Most living things build proteins from the same 20 different amino acids. Amino acids connect by the formation of a peptide bond, which is a covalent bond formed between two amino acids when the carboxylic acid group of one amino acid reacts with the amine group of the other amino acid. The formation of the bond results in the production of a molecule of water, and the resulting bond is called a peptide link or peptide bond. The synthesis of amino acids in laboratory conditions similar to early Earth is significant because it provides insight into how life may have originated on Earth.