biogenesis

views updated Jun 08 2018

bi·o·gen·e·sis / ˌbīōˈjenəsis/ • n. the synthesis of substances by living organisms. ∎  hist. the hypothesis that living matter arises only from other living matter.DERIVATIVES: bi·o·ge·net·ic / -jəˈnetik/ adj.

biogenesis

views updated Jun 11 2018

biogenesis Biological principle maintaining that all living organisms derive from parent(s) generally similar to themselves. This long-held principle originally arose in opposition to the idea of spontaneous generation (that life can arise spontaneously from nonliving matter). See also genetics

biogenesis

views updated Jun 27 2018

biogenesis The principle that a living organism can only arise from other living organisms similar to itself (i.e. that like gives rise to like) and can never originate from nonliving material. Compare spontaneous generation.

biogenesis

views updated May 23 2018

biogenesis The principle that a living organism can arise only from another living organism, a principle contrasting with concepts such as that of the spontaneous generation of living from non-living matter. The term is currently more often used to refer to the formation from or by living organisms of any substance, e.g. coal, chalk, chemicals, etc.

biogenesis

views updated Jun 11 2018

biogenesis The principle that a living organism can arise only from another living organism, a principle contrasting with concepts such as that of the spontaneous generation of living from non-living matter. The term is currently more often used to refer to the formation from or by living organisms of any substance (e.g. coal, chalk, or chemicals).

biogenesis

views updated May 17 2018

biogenesis The principle that a living organism can arise only from another living organism, a principle contrasting with concepts such as that of the spontaneous generation of living from non-living matter. The term is currently more often used to refer to the formation from or by living organisms of any substance (e.g. coal, chalk, or chemicals).

biogenesis

views updated May 08 2018

biogenesis Principle that a living organism can arise only from another living organism, a principle contrasting with concepts such as that of the spontaneous generation of living from non-living matter. The term is currently more often used to refer to the formation from or by living organisms of any substance, e.g. coal, chalk, chemicals, etc.

biogenesis

views updated May 14 2018

biogenesis (by-oh-jen-i-sis) n. the theory that living organisms can arise only from other living organisms and not from nonliving matter.