... the Earth's atmosphere might have formed. Miller mixed "atmospheric" gases (hydrogen, methane, ammonia, and water vapor) in a sterile glass container and charged them with energy by adding electric sparks to them. The electric sparks resembled lightning at the time of the Earth's formation. After about a week, the mixture turned brown and was found to contain amino acids. This organic compound produced in ... and nucleic acids stick to the structures of clay crystals. By being held together in a regular pattern on clay crystals, these molecules combine to form proteins and polynucleotid...

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• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School