J.B.S. Haldane, a British scientist (who became a citizen of India later), suggested in 1929 that life must have developed from the simple in organic molecules which were present on earth soon after it was formed. How did these organic molecules arise? An answer was suggested by the experiment conducted by Stanley L. Miller and Harold C Urey in 1953.
They assembled an atmosphere similar to that thought to exist on early earth (this had molecules like ammonia, methane) and Hydrogen sulphide, but no oxygen) over water. This was maintained at a temperature just below 100° c and sparks were passed through the mixture of gases to stimulate lighting. At the end of a week, 15% of the carbon (from methane) had been converted to simple compounds of carbon including amino acids which make up protein molecules. This is the evidence we have for the life from inanimate matter.
