spontaneous generation

• Ныне опровергнутая биологическая теория, согласно которой живые организмы могут самопроизвольно возникать из неживой материи, например, личинки мух из гниющего мяса. Эта концепция исторически использовалась для объяснения происхождения простых форм жизни, пока не была опровергнута Луи Пастером и другими в XIX веке.

A now-discredited biological theory that living organisms can arise spontaneously from non-living matter, such as maggots appearing from decaying meat. This concept was historically used to explain the origin of simple life forms before being disproven by Louis Pasteur and others in the 19th century.

1. Obsolete biological theoryC1formal

   The now-disproven theory that living organisms can arise from non-living matter, such as maggots appearing from rotting meat.

   Самозарождение

   • Spontaneous generation was once believed to explain the appearance of mice in stored grain.
   • Louis Pasteur's experiments disproved the theory of spontaneous generation.
   • Before the 19th century, many scientists accepted spontaneous generation as fact.