The atmosphere of the primitive Earth and the prebiotic synthesis of amino acids

Abstract

The atmosphere of the Earth at the time of its formation is now generally believed to have been reducing, an idea proposed by Oparin and extensively discussed by Urey. This atmosphere would have contained CH4, N2 with traces of NH3, water and hydrogen. Only traces of NH3 would have been present because of its solubility in water. UV light and electric discharges were the major sources of energy for amino acid synthesis, with electric discharges being the most efficient, although most other sources of energy also give amino acids.