biogenezis

Biogenesis is the principle that living organisms arise from pre-existing life rather than spontaneously from non-living matter. In biology, it describes processes by which new organisms originate through reproduction or cellular division, including mitosis, meiosis, bacterial fission, and various forms of plant and animal propagation. Biogenesis is a cornerstone of modern biology, aligning with the cell theory that all cells come from pre-existing cells and that genetic information is transmitted through replication of DNA or RNA.

Historically, many thinkers proposed spontaneous generation, the notion that life could emerge from non-living material. Experiments by Francesco Redi in the 17th century, followed by Lazzaro Spallanzani and Louis Pasteur in the 18th and 19th centuries, provided strong evidence in favor of biogenesis and against spontaneous generation. Pasteur’s experiments with swan-neck flasks showed that microorganisms arise only from other microorganisms in the environment, not from the broth itself.

In modern biology, biogenesis is supported by extensive experimental and observational evidence. All known life shares a common cellular architecture and genetic heritage, and every generation arises from pre-existing organisms through sexual or asexual reproduction. Development in multicellular organisms—from a single fertilized egg to a mature individual—is also considered a biogenic process in the broader sense.

Biogenesis is distinct from abiogenesis, the study of how life originated from non-living matter. Abiogenesis explores prebiotic chemistry, early Earth conditions, and hypotheses about the origin of metabolic networks and informational polymers. While abiogenesis addresses the origin of life, biogenesis concerns the propagation of life once it exists.