Life Sciences and Theories of Origin

What is life in science?

Which of the following theories on the origin of life is based on the idea of a supreme being creating all life forms?

What does the term 'panspermia' mean?

The spontaneous generation theory claims that living creatures can arise from non-living matter.

Who conducted an experiment to challenge the idea of spontaneous generation?

What is Life in Science?

Life is the period from birth to death
Life is also defined as the condition that occurs only in living organisms
Life is any system capable of performing functions such as eating, metabolizing, breathing, moving, growing, reproducing, etc.
Simply, life sciences are the study of living organisms and life processes.

Theories on the Origin of Life

Special Creation/ Divine Creation - all life forms existing today were created by a supreme being.
Spontaneous Generation Theory/ Abiogenesis - this theory was believed by Greek philosophers like Aristotle, Thales, Anaximander, Newton, and Needham. It states that living creatures could arise from non-living matter.
- Italian Francesco Redi conducted an experiment that challenged the idea of spontaneous generation.
- Redi was able to prove that organisms do not just come to life spontaneously.
Theory of Biogenesis
Panspermia - this theory suggests that life forms were seeded on Earth from outer space. "Panspermia" is derived from the Greek word "seeds everywhere."

Explore the fascinating concepts of life and its processes in the realm of life sciences. This quiz delves into various theories regarding the origin of life, including Special Creation, Spontaneous Generation, and Panspermia. Test your understanding of these fundamental biological principles.