abiogenesis

[ ey-bahy-oh-jen-uh-sis, ab-ee-oh- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Biology.

the theory that the earliest life forms on earth developed from nonliving matter. Compare biogenesis.
Also called spon·ta·ne·ous gen·er·a·tion [spon-, tey, -nee-, uh, s jen-, uh, -, rey, -sh, uh, n]. the now discredited theory that living organisms can arise spontaneously from inanimate matter.

abiogenesis

/ ˌeɪbaɪəʊˈdʒɛnɪsɪs; ˌeɪbaɪˈɒdʒɪnɪst /

Also calledautogenesis the hypothetical process by which living organisms first arose on earth from nonliving matter
See biogenesis, spontaneous generation
another name for spontaneous generation Compare biogenesis

abiogenesis

/ ā′bī-ō-jĕn′ĭ-sĭs /

a·bi·o·ge·net·ic [ey-bahy-oh-j, uh, -, net, -ik, ab-ee-oh-], a·bi·o·ge·net·i·cal adjective
a·bi·o·ge·net·i·cal·ly adverb
a·bi·og·e·nist [ey-bahy-, oj, -, uh, -nist, ab-ee-], noun

a- ⁶ + biogenesis; coined by T. H. Huxley in 1870

C19: New Latin, from a- ¹+ bio- + genesis

How does abiogenesis compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

Abiogenesis, ab-i-o-jen′es-is, n. the origination of living by not-living matter, spontaneous generation.

I entirely agree with his assertion that “to reject abiogenesis is to admit a miracle.”

The belief in abiogenesis or spontaneous generation, as now taking place, has completely disappeared from biological teaching.

This belief led to the theory of abiogenesis so-called—a term signifying the production of life without life to begin with.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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