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Dictionary » S » Spontaneous generation

Spontaneous generation

Definition

The previously popular notion that living organisms arise or develop from nonliving matter.


Supplement

The theory of spontaneous generation held that complex, living organisms may be produced from nonliving matter. It was a popular belief that mice occur spontaneously from stored grain, or maggots spontaneously appear in meat.


Related phrases: theory of spontaneous generation.
Synonym: autogenesis, autogeny, abiogenesis.
Compare: biogenesis.


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Natural selection is proven wrong

... is to cause cancer. Now, new genes. New genes arise from old genes (no spontaneous generation at the genetic level either). Genomes are not static things, particularly at the ...

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by wbla3335
Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:17 am
 
Forum: Evolution
Topic: Natural selection is proven wrong
Replies: 88
Views: 2520

Re: Problems with Evolution !

... that theoretically occurs in every infected person. Autogenesis? As in spontaneous generation? We figured it happened - at least once. Also doesn't appear to be happening now.

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by JorgeLobo
Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:32 am
 
Forum: Evolution
Topic: Problems with Evolution !
Replies: 33
Views: 4818

Re: Cells come from other cells reasoning

... have at some point derived from non-cels and life from non-life. So spontaneous generation happened at some time - just not any more/

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by JorgeLobo
Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:04 am
 
Forum: Cell Biology
Topic: Cells come from other cells reasoning
Replies: 4
Views: 714

Pasteur's Experiment

... the argument, but I suppose if they waited "long enough", spontaneous generation would have been more difficult to disprove. It is a fact that sometimes contamination ...

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by Cat
Wed Mar 05, 2008 3:59 pm
 
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Pasteur's Experiment
Replies: 1
Views: 1203

Pasteur's Experiment

... section, there is this question: "Suppose the proponents of spontaneous generation claimed that if Louis Pasteur had waited long enough, the organisms would have spontaneously ...

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by galileon
Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:51 am
 
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Pasteur's Experiment
Replies: 1
Views: 1203
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