Stanley Miller

The Miller-Urey experiment attempted to re-create the chemical conditions of prehistoric earth. The experiment used water, ammonia, methane, and hydrogen. Sparks were injected into the atmosphere to simulate prehistoric lightning. Water was evaporated to create water vapor. All of these things were put in a sealed container so that the current environment will not get in and effect the environment. Miller and Urey found as much as 10 to 15% of organic compounds as a result of the experiment. Some formed amino acids; 13 of the 21 amino acids needed to create a living cell. There are two forms of amino acids, left handed and right handed. Only left handed are found in living organisms with the exception of a few exotic marine creatures. The amino acids came out even in left and right handed varietys.