They certainly did in the late 60s- early 70s when I was in school. Besides, evolution is not a theory since it cannot be duplicated. At best, it is a "scientific model" for which there is no real evidence.
On this very forum a person told me that Evolution does not depend upon origins. That is like saying that we can theorize about bridge construction without any regard to what kind of foundation it must rest upon.
I fully realize that some very smart people are busy trying to assemble a simple bacteria molecule by molecule. It will be a big challenge for one side or the other will come when either a totally synthetic bacteria comes alive by itself, or if it just cannot ever come alive despite every attempt to do so.