Thermal synthesis of amino acids under assumed prebiotic conditions

This research was intended to demonstrate that the sulfur-containing amino acids could be thermally synthesized under hypothesized prebiotic conditions. Methane, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and water vapor were passed through a reaction tube heated to 950°C in an attempt to synthesize cysteine (or cystine) and methionine. These amino acids were not detected by chromatographic or chemical tests; however, they may have been synthesized, but in amounts too small to be detected, or they may have become oxidized or decomposed prior to analysis. Alanine and phenylalanine were tentatively identified; six other atypical ninhydrin-positive compounds were also detected, but not identified. The results of this research suggest that the addition of hydrogen sulfide to methane, ammonia and water vapor significantly alters the composition of the amino acids produced.Thesis (M.S.