SPONTANEOUS GENERATION Meaning and
Definition
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Spontaneous generation refers to the obsolete and now-discredited theory that proposed living organisms can emerge or be generated from inanimate matter or non-living substances. Prior to the development of modern biology and the understanding of microorganisms, people believed that certain forms of life, such as insects, worms, or even mice, could arise spontaneously from ordinary materials like mud, decaying matter, or other organic substances.
This theory of spontaneous generation was widely accepted throughout much of human history and was even popularized by influential scholars like Aristotle. However, in the mid-17th century, it began to face challenges with the experiments of scientists such as Francesco Redi and Louis Pasteur. These experiments effectively demonstrated that the presence of pre-existing living organisms, such as insects or bacteria, was necessary for the generation of new life. They showed that spontaneous generation did not occur, but rather, life arose from the proliferation of existing organisms through processes like reproduction.
Today, the concept of spontaneous generation has been thoroughly discredited and is not accepted in the scientific community. The understanding that life arises from preexisting life, through processes such as cell division or sexual reproduction, forms the foundation of modern biology and the theory of biogenesis.
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The production of the lowest forms of life without visible means.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for SPONTANEOUS GENERATION
- apontaneous generation
- zpontaneous generation
- xpontaneous generation
- dpontaneous generation
- epontaneous generation
- wpontaneous generation
- soontaneous generation
- slontaneous generation
- s-ontaneous generation
- s0ontaneous generation
- spintaneous generation
- spkntaneous generation
- splntaneous generation
- sppntaneous generation
- sp0ntaneous generation
- sp9ntaneous generation
- spobtaneous generation
- spomtaneous generation
- spojtaneous generation
Etymology of SPONTANEOUS GENERATION
The word "spontaneous" comes from the Latin word "spontaneus", meaning "of one's free will" or "voluntary". The term "generation" comes from the Latin word "generatio", which refers to the process of creating or giving birth to offspring.
The term "spontaneous generation" was commonly used in the context of biology and philosophy during the late medieval and early modern periods. It referred to the theory that living organisms could arise spontaneously from inanimate matter, such as decaying organic material or mud. This theory was prominent until the 17th century when scientists such as Francesco Redi and Louis Pasteur conducted experiments that disproved it.
The term and its etymology illustrate the belief that the generation of life from non-living matter happens willingly or voluntarily, without any external cause or intervention.
Similar spelling words for SPONTANEOUS GENERATION
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