Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The primordial soup refers to the hypothetical mixture of organic compounds that existed on Earth billions of years ago, which is believed to have been the starting point for the origin of life.
Related terms
Organic molecules: These are complex carbon-based compounds that are essential for life processes.
It is the scientific term used to describe how life may have originated from non-living matter.
Miller-Urey Experiment: This famous experiment simulated conditions similar to those believed to exist on early Earth in order to demonstrate how simple organic molecules could form under such circumstances.