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panspermia

 - 3 dictionary results

pan⋅sper⋅mi⋅a

  [pan-spur-mee-uh]
Use panspermia in a Sentence
–noun Biology.
the theory that life exists and is distributed throughout the universe in the form of germs or spores that develop in the right environment.
Also, pan⋅sper⋅ma⋅tism  [pan-spur-muh-tiz-uhm] , pan⋅sper⋅my  [pan-spur-mee] .

Origin:
1835–45; < NL < Gk panspermía mixture of all seeds. See pan-, -sperm, -ia

Related forms:
pan⋅sper⋅mic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pan·sper·mi·a   (pān-spûr'mē-ə)   
n.  The theory that microorganisms or biochemical compounds from outer space are responsible for originating life on Earth and possibly in other parts of the universe where suitable atmospheric conditions exist.

[Greek panspermiā, mixture of all seeds : pan-, pan- + sperma, seed; see sperm1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: pan·sper·mia
Pronunciation: "pan-'sp&r-mE-&
Function: noun
: a theory propounded in the 19th century in opposition to thetheory of spontaneous generation and holding that reproductive bodies of living organisms exist throughout the universe and develop wherever the environment is favorable
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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