Question

• How can we test the origin of life hypothesis “the Spontaneous Abiotic Origin”?

Answer 1

The hypothesis of "the spontaneous abiotic origin" can be tested through the Urey-Miller experiment.

In this experiment, the primordial conditions of earth before the origin of life are replicated at a prototype level.

In a vessel, the basic molecules like methane, ammonia, water and hydrogen are taken to provide the basic atomic elements. Methane is a source of carbon. Ammonia supplies nitrogen. Water contains oxygen. And hydrogen gas maintains the reducing atmosphere which was prevelant in earth before origin of life.

The vessel is then heated to induce evaporation of the contents. Following this, an electic spark is administered inside the vessel to mimic the lightnings that would have occured on earth.

The vessel is then cooled so that the contents (especially water) condense back.

After this, the contents of the vessel is check using techniques like chromatography, mass spectrometry, etc.

It will be found that amino acids (like alanine, glycine, aspartic acid, etc) have formed inside the vessel. There amino acids are the bulding blocks of all forms of life. Other biomolecules like sugars are also detected in trace amounts.

This shows that life must have originated spontaneously and in an abiotic manner.

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