the miller-urey experiment was conducted in 1956 to probe the origins of life on earth. they used an apparatus to simulate the temperature/pressure/chemical conditions present on prebiotic earth and looked for the formation of organic compounds from the inorganic gases thought to exist in earth's primitive atmosphere. at the time they discovered the presence of 5 amino acids, however recent analysis of the material created from their original experiment showed that 22 amino acids were formed. for those who don't know, proteins (which play many roles, including carrying out all the metabolic processes in all life forms as we know them) are composed of chains of amino acids, the same ones formed from this experiment. pretty cool stuff!
Friday, October 24, 2008
the miller-urey experiment
the miller-urey experiment was conducted in 1956 to probe the origins of life on earth. they used an apparatus to simulate the temperature/pressure/chemical conditions present on prebiotic earth and looked for the formation of organic compounds from the inorganic gases thought to exist in earth's primitive atmosphere. at the time they discovered the presence of 5 amino acids, however recent analysis of the material created from their original experiment showed that 22 amino acids were formed. for those who don't know, proteins (which play many roles, including carrying out all the metabolic processes in all life forms as we know them) are composed of chains of amino acids, the same ones formed from this experiment. pretty cool stuff!
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1 comment:
That is very cool.
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