biogenezist

A biogenezist is an adherent of biogenesis, the principle that living organisms arise only from other living organisms. The term is used to describe someone who supports the view that life originates through reproduction or cellular processes that trace back to preexisting life, rather than arising de novo from nonliving matter. In practice, the label is most common in historical or philosophical discussions of the origin of life or debates about spontaneous generation. Biogenesis is contrasted with abiogenesis, the hypothesis that life can originate from nonliving matter under suitable conditions.

Historically, beliefs about the origin of life varied. In ancient times, some philosophers argued for spontaneous generation, while others proposed that life emerges from a seed or a vital force. The modern framework, grounded in experimental biology, favors biogenesis and relies on evidence from reproduction, cell theory, and genetics. The swan-necked flask experiments of Louis Pasteur in the 19th century provided key empirical support for biogenesis by showing that microorganisms did not spontaneously appear in sterile nutrient broths. Today, biogenesis is a foundational principle in biology, explaining reproduction, heredity, and the propagation of life across generations. The term biogenezist remains largely historical or rhetorical, used mainly to describe proponents of biogenesis in discussions of the origin-of-life problem or in linguistic comparisons with abiogenesis.