Chapter 22, Problem 1STP

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Miller and Urey’s experiment consisted of a glass apparatus that simulated the early Earth conditions as hypothesized by Oparin. The apparatus was filled with water and gases such as methane, ammonia and hydrogen (simulated gases of early Earth). The water was boiled and electric discharges were used to simulate lightning as an energy source. The resulting mixture contained a variety of organic compounds such as amino acids.

Answer to Problem 1STP

Correct answer:

The correct answer is option C. Oparin’s primordial soup idea

Explanation of Solution

Explanation/justification for the correct answer:

Option C. Oparin’s primordial soup idea −The primordial soup hypothesis was an early hypothesis about origin of life. Oparin and Haldane gave this hypothesis according to which the if Earth’s early atmosphere had a mix of certain gases; organic molecules could have been synthesized from simple reactions involving those gases in the early oceans. UV light from Sun and electric discharge in lightning might serve as energy sources. These organic molecules could be the precursors to life.

Miller and Urey’s experiment resulted in formation of amino acids which are the building blocks of proteins. Hence, this discovery supported the primordial soup hypothesis.

Hence this is the correct option.

Explanation for incorrect answer:

Option A. Marguilis’s endosymbiont theory −The endosymbiont theory states that bacteria might have lived inside prokaryotes and eventually became organelles in eukaryotic cells. Miller- Urey experiment does not support this hypothesis.

Hence this is not the correct option.

Option B. Miller’s amino acid origin- Miller- Urey’s experiment does not support this hypothesis. Hence this is not the correct option.

Option D. Pasteur’s biogenesis theory − Pasteur disproved the spontaneous generation theory by supporting the biogenesis theory which stated that only living organisms can give rise to other living organisms. Miller- Urey experiment does not support this hypothesis.

Hence this is not the correct option.