Recent scientific research has revealed that life on Earth came from the earth, a theory that supports the view of thousands of years of the Bible, the Qur'an and even Greek mythology.
Researchers believe that clay, which contains various minerals, and which "absorbs like a sponge" chemicals, acts as a laboratory for small molecules.
The process takes billions of years, during which chemicals react with each other to form proteins, DNA and, ultimately, living cells, scientists said.
Biological engineers at Cornell University in New York, who did the research, believe that clay was the main element in the appearance of life on Earth.
This theory dates back thousands of years in many cultures, although it appears in various forms. In religious texts from ancient Egypt to Chinese myths, God created man from clay and by his breath gave him life.
The first book of the Bible, Genesis, states about man being born of the dirt and returning to the dirt when he dies.
In seawater, clay forms a hydrogel - a mass of small spaces that can absorb other minerals, chemicals and small molecules from the surrounding area.
Professor Dan Luo of Cornell University said: "Early in history, clay hydrogel provided an oasis of isolation for biomolecules and generated biochemical reactions inside. Over billions of years, the chemicals inside these spaces have gave rise to complex reactions that formed proteins, DNA and all the other elements of the living cell, "reports the Daily Mail.