A single experiment in 1828 destroyed the theory of Vitalism which held that 鈥渙rganic substances鈥� found in living systems could not be made in the laboratory because they were empowered with a 鈥渧ital force鈥� that could not be duplicated. Chemistry professor Friedrich Wohler heated ammonium cyanate, a compound that was clearly 鈥渋norganic鈥� since it came from a mineral source and converted it to urea, clearly 鈥渙rganic鈥� since it could be isolated from urine. This showed that there was no vital force in organic compounds and that they were amenable to laboratory synthesis. The way was now open for the synthesis of numerous biomolecules.
