NEETZoologyEvolution
What was the theory of spontaneous generation?
Options
- ALife came from outside Earth
- BLife was transferred from other planets
- CLife originated from decaying and rotting matter
- DLife evolved from pre-existing life
Correct answer
C. Life originated from decaying and rotting matter
Step-by-step solution
Early Greek thinkers thought units of life called spores were transferred to different planets including earth. ‘Panspermia’ is still a favourite idea for some astronomers For a long time it was also believed that life came out of decaying and rotting matter like straw, mud, etc. This was the theory of spontaneous generation. Louis Pasteur by careful experimentation demonstrated that life comes only from pre-existing life.He showed that in pre-sterilised flasks, life did not come from killed yeast while in another