[Campbell Biology P.575] Regarding the early Earth's atmosphere and the synthesis of organic... | Practice Question
Regarding the early Earth's atmosphere and the synthesis of organic compounds, which statement is most accurate?
A: Oparin and Haldane hypothesized a neutral atmosphere, which was later supported by Miller's classic experiment.
B: The early Earth's atmosphere was initially rich in oxygen, which facilitated the formation of organic molecules.
C: Modern evidence suggests the early atmosphere was primarily composed of nitrogen and carbon dioxide, neither strongly reducing nor oxidizing, though reducing conditions might have existed near volcanoes.
D: Miller's 1953 experiment definitively proved that organic compounds could only form in a strictly reducing atmosphere.
E: Volcanic eruptions primarily released oxygen, which was crucial for the abiotic synthesis of amino acids.
Explanation
The text explicitly states that 'some evidence suggests that the early atmosphere was made up primarily of nitrogen and carbon dioxide and was neither reducing nor oxidizing electron removing .' However, it also notes that 'small pockets of the early atmosphere, such as those near the openings of volcanoes, may have been reducing.' This comprehensive statement accurately reflects the current understanding presented in the text.