Miller-Urey type experiments produce toxic chemicals, such as cyanide and
formaldehyde, but not amino acids.
Source:
Discovery Institute. 2003. A preliminary analysis of the treatment of
evolution in biology textbooks currently being considered for adoption by
the Texas State Board of Education.
http://www.discovery.org/articleFiles/PDFs/TexasPrelim.pdf,
p. 5.
Response:
Cyanide and formaldehyde are necessary building blocks for important
biochemical compounds, including amino acids (Abelson 1996). They are
not toxins in this context.
Miller-Urey experiments produce amino acids among other chemical
compounds (Kawamoto and Akaboshi 1982; Schlesinger and Miller 1983).
References:
Abelson, P. 1996. Chemical events on the primitive earth. Proceedings of
the National Academy of Science USA 55:
1365-1372.
Kawamoto, K. and M. Akaboshi. 1982. Study on the chemical evolution of
low molecular weight compounds in a highly oxidized atmosphere using
electric discharges. Origins of Life 12(2): 133-141.
Schlesinger, G. and S. L. Miller. 1983. Prebiotic synthesis in
atmospheres containing CH4, CO, and CO2. I. Amino
acids. Journal of Molecular Evolution 19(5): 376-382.
Further Reading:
Ellington, Andrew D. and Matthew Levy. 2003. Gas, discharge, and the
Discovery Institute. Reports of the National Center for Science
Education 23(3-4): 39-40.
