Prolonged electric spark discharges were applied to mixtures consisting essentially of methane, ammonia, water, and ethane in an investigation of the synthesis of organic compounds under possible primitive earth conditions. C/sup 14/-hydrocarbons, mainly C/sup 14/-methane, were used as tracers. Radioautograrns were prepared of two-dimensional chromatograms of the products formed. The results show that a number of organic compounds are formed by the action of electric discharges on the mixtures. The products obtained include glycine, alanine, aspartic acid, asparagine, isoleucine, glycinamide, and possibly proline, a yellowish oil, a highly insoluble polymer, and several ultraviolet-absorbing compounds. Products that gave purple, green, and brown derivatives with ninhydrin, suggesting the presence of amines, amino-nitriles, aminoamides, and peptides, were also formed. The experimental procedure is described. (C.H.)