Final answer:
The Miller-Urey experiment demonstrated that organic molecules such as amino acids could form under conditions similar to those of early Earth's atmosphere, supporting the abiogenesis hypothesis for the origin of life. Their simulated early Earth atmosphere led to the creation of these molecules via electrical spark-induced reactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Miller-Urey experiment aimed to simulate early Earth conditions to demonstrate that organic molecules could form in the absence of life forms. The experiment was premised on the assumptions that early Earth had a reducing atmosphere composed of ammonia, hydrogen, methane, and water, and that this atmosphere, exposed to energy sources like lightning, could produce the building blocks of life such as amino acids and nucleic acids.
Miller and Urey's experiment involved heating water to create steam, which then mixed with gases—believed to be similar to early Earth's atmosphere—and was subjected to electrical sparks to simulate lightning. The resulting cooled mixture contained organic compounds essential to life. Their work supported the hypothesis of abiogenesis, suggesting a possible pathway for the formation of life from non-living matter on primordial Earth. Despite the success of the experiment in demonstrating the possibility of life's precursors forming naturally, different hypotheses about the origin of life continue to be explored, reflecting the complexity and variability of Earth's early environment.