Miller

Definition

Miller refers to Stanley Miller, a scientist who conducted groundbreaking experiments in the 1950s that simulated early Earth conditions to study the origin of life. His work provided significant insights into how organic molecules could form under prebiotic conditions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Stanley Miller's experiment is one of the first to demonstrate that simple organic compounds can be synthesized from inorganic precursors.
2. The Miller-Urey experiment used a mixture of water, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen gases and applied an electric spark to simulate lightning.
3. The experiment resulted in the formation of amino acids, which are essential building blocks of life.
4. Miller’s findings supported the hypothesis that Earth's early atmosphere could have facilitated chemical reactions leading to life's building blocks.
5. The experiment has been repeated with variations and continues to be foundational in the field of astrobiology.

Review Questions

• What was the primary goal of Stanley Miller's experiment?
• Which gases were used in the Miller-Urey experiment to simulate early Earth conditions?
• What significant organic compounds were synthesized as a result of Miller's experiment?

Related terms

Abiogenesis: The process by which life arises naturally from non-living matter.

Amino Acids: Organic compounds that combine to form proteins, essential for all living organisms.

Prebiotic Chemistry: The study of how organic compounds necessary for life could have formed on early Earth or other planets before biological processes began.