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Theory of Biogenesis

The theory of biogenesis states that all living things arise from other living things, not from non-living matter. Louis Pasteur provided evidence for this theory through an experiment where he boiled a flask to kill any microorganisms and found no new life formed over time, supporting that life does not spontaneously generate. While biogenesis explains how individual organisms reproduce, it does not fully account for the evolution and diversification of species over billions of years, so scientists rely on the broader theory of evolution to explain the entire history of life on Earth.

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979 views1 page

Theory of Biogenesis

The theory of biogenesis states that all living things arise from other living things, not from non-living matter. Louis Pasteur provided evidence for this theory through an experiment where he boiled a flask to kill any microorganisms and found no new life formed over time, supporting that life does not spontaneously generate. While biogenesis explains how individual organisms reproduce, it does not fully account for the evolution and diversification of species over billions of years, so scientists rely on the broader theory of evolution to explain the entire history of life on Earth.

Uploaded by

Zamambo Mkhize
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Theory of biogenesis

Explanation
Bio-Life

Genesis-beginning

The theory of biogenesis says that living things come from other living things. It means that life
doesn't just appear from non-living things. This idea goes against the old belief that life can
spontaneously generate (abiogenesis). Biogenesis says that living things have babies and pass on
their traits to them, so life keeps going. Scientists have lots of evidence to support this theory.

Support
One famous experiment was performed by Louis Pasteur in the 19th century. He designed a flask
with a long, curved neck that allowed air to enter but prevented dust and microorganisms from
reaching the liquid inside. Pasteur boiled the liquid to kill any existing organisms and then observed
that no new life forms appeared in the flask over time. This experiment demonstrated that life does
not spontaneously generate from non-living matter. Other experiments have also been conducted,
such as showing that sterilized environments remain free of living organisms unless exposed to new
sources of life. These experiments provide evidence supporting the idea that life only arises from
pre-existing life.

Why was it rejected?


The theory of biogenesis is not the best explanation for the entire history of life on Earth because it
primarily focuses on the origin of individual living organisms. While it explains how life continues
through reproduction, it doesn't provide a comprehensive understanding of the evolution and
diversification of species over billions of years. To explain the broader history of life on Earth,
scientists rely on the theory of evolution, which encompasses the gradual changes and adaptations
that have occurred in species over time.

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