State the theory of abiogenesis. How does Miller’s experiment support this theory ?
 

Stanley Miller and Harold Urey in 1953 performed on experiment to clearly demonstrate that ultraviolet radiations or electrical discharges or a combination of these can produce complex organic compounds from a mixture of $\mathrm{CH}_{4}, \mathrm{NH}_{3}, \mathrm{H}_{2}$ and water vapour $\left(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}\right)$ at $800^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$.

Electric discharge was created in a closed flask containing $\mathrm{CH}_{4}, \mathrm{NH}_{3}, \mathrm{H}_{2}$ in the ratio $2: 1: 2$ as shown in figure.

$\Rightarrow$ The conditions were set similar to those of the primitive atmosphere in the laboratory.

$-$ He observed formation of amino acids while in similar experiments performed by other scientists the presence of complex molecules like sugar, pigments, nitrogen bases and fats in the flask were also observed.

Thus, Miller-Urey experiment supported the theory of abiogenesis followed by chemical evolution.

- Analysis of meteorite content also revealed similar compound indicating that similar processes are occurring elsewhere in space.

- Thus with these limited evidences, the idea of chemical evolution was more or less accepted.