The Main Idea of Biogenesis Theory
From ancient times until the seventeenth century, the accepted doctrine for the origin of life was the theory of spontaneous generation--that life emerged from nonliving matter. Advances in science led to the theory of biogenesis.
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Definition of Biogenesis
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Biogenesis is the hypothesis that new life arises from living matter as opposed to spontaneous generation, or abiogenesis, the theory that life emerges from nonliving materials. With the discovery of bacteria in the 19th century, many of the phenomena formerly attributed to abiogenesis were known to propagate due to biogenesis.
Definition of Life
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Although attempts have been made to create life from chemicals, no experiments have yet succeeded. The definition of life was put in question when scientists synthesized an artificial polio virus. However, this was not a true life form; viruses do not fit the requirements of scientifically defined life, nor do they carry the inheritance properties of DNA found in all other organisms.
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Philosophical Definition of Biogenesis
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One definition of biogenesis is used to support religious belief in a supernatural creator. Creationist biologists deny a link to abiogenesis, which adheres to "spontaneous" creation of life. Instead, these biologists believe that a supernatural power created life. With the advance of technology and knowledge, the existence of a creator may eventually be proven.
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