Most of the questions regarding the development of life on Earth are answered by the evolutionary teachings of Darwin, the scientist who revolutionized the scientific world two centuries ago. However, Darwin did not give an exact answer to the question of how the first living organism appeared. In his opinion, spontaneous generation of bacteria occurred by chance, based on a number of favorable conditions and the availability of the necessary material for the cell. But here's the problem: the simplest bacterium consists of two thousand enzymes. Based on these factors, scientists calculated: the probability of the appearance of a simple living organism in a billion years is 10¯ 39950 %. To understand how insignificant this is, you can give a simple example with a broken TV. If you put two thousand parts from the TV in the box and shake it well, then the possibility that the assembled TV will appear in the box sooner or later is approximately equal to the probability of the birth of life. And in such an example, adverse environmental factors are not even taken into account. If the parts are nevertheless lined up in the correct order, this does not mean that the assembled TV, for example, will not melt due to the too high temperature that awaits it outside the box.
Evolutionism and creationism
Nevertheless, life on Earth appeared, and the mystery of its origin haunts the best minds of mankind. At the beginning of the 20th century, the conclusion about the origin of life on Earth was determined by the presence or absence of faith in God. Most atheists adhered to the theory of the random nucleation of the first cell and its evolutionary path of development, and believers reduced the secret of life to the plan and creation of God. For creationists (the so-called proponents of intelligent design) there were no obscure questions or riddles: everything, from the first cell to the depths of space, was created by the Almighty Creator.
Primary broth
In 1924, the scientist Alexander Oparin published a book in which he brought to the scientific world a new hypothesis of the appearance of the first simplest organism. In 1929, Oparin’s theory of the origin of life interested the scientist John Haldane. The British researcher was engaged in a similar study and came to the conclusions confirming the doctrine of the Soviet scientist. The general interpretation of the theories of Oparin and Haldane was reduced to the following principle:
- The young Earth had an atmosphere of ammonia and methane, devoid of oxygen.
- Thunderstorms affecting the atmosphere led to the formation of organic substances.
- Organic matter in huge quantities and diversity accumulated in large bodies of water, which was called the "primary broth."
- In certain places, a large number of molecules were concentrated, sufficient for the origin of life.
- The interaction between them led to the formation of proteins and nucleic acids.
- Proteins and nucleic acids form the genetic code.
- Compounds of molecules and the genetic code formed a living cell.
- The cell received the nutrient medium from the primary broth.
- When the necessary substances disappeared from the nutrient medium, the cell learned to replenish them independently.
- The cell has its own metabolism.
- New living organisms have evolved.
The Oparin-Haldane theory answered the main question of Darwin theory advocates about how the first living organism could have appeared.
Miller's Experience
The scientific community is interested in experimentally testing the hypothesis of the primary broth. To confirm the theory of Oparin, the chemist Miller came up with a unique device. In it, he modeled not only the primitive atmosphere of the Earth (ammonia with methane), but also the estimated composition of the primary broth of which the seas and oceans consisted. Steam and imitation of lightning - a discharge category - were supplied to the device. During the experiment, Miller was able to obtain amino acids, which are the building block of all proteins. Thanks to this, Oparin’s theory gained even more popularity and significance in the world of science.
Unjustified theory
The experience carried out by Miller for thirty years was of scientific value. However, in the 80s, scientists found that the primary atmosphere of the Earth did not consist of ammonia and methane, as stated in Oparin's theory, but of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Moreover, the chemist neglected the fact that, together with amino acids, substances were formed that violate the functions of a living organism.
This was bad news for chemists around the world who, as it seemed to them, adhered to the most fundamental theory. How then did life begin if the interaction of nitrogen and carbon dioxide forms an insufficient amount of organic compounds? Miller did not have an answer, and Oparin's theory crashed.
Life is the mystery of the universe
Proponents of evolution were again left without speculation about how the first bacterium could have appeared. Each subsequent experiment confirmed that a living cell has such a complex structure that its accidental appearance is possible only in science fiction.
Despite a scientific refutation, Oparin’s theory is often found in modern books on biology and chemistry, because such an experience was of historical value in the scientific community.