Download PowerPoint (3.1 MB - Download)

Early Atmosphere could create
“molecules of life”
1
B. Bruce - Building Blocks of Life
Early Atmosphere could create
“molecules of life”
2
B. Bruce - Building Blocks of Life
Stanley Miller & Harold Urey at the Univ. Chicago
(1953) recreated an early earth atmosphere
 The experiment used water (H2O), methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3), and hydrogen (H2)
 After 2 weeks of continuous operation, 10–15% of C was in form of organic compounds
 In 2007 original experiments were shown to contain over 20 amino acids
3
B. Bruce - Building Blocks of Life
Early Atmosphere could create
“molecules of life”
4
B. Bruce - Building Blocks of Life
Most Molecules of Life are Polymers or
Macromolecules
5
B. Bruce - Uniqueness of Water for Life
Cells are mostly water! Just like the
Earth!
6
B. Bruce - Uniqueness of Water for Life