xenogeneisia

Xenogeneisia is a term that describes the origin of life from non-living matter, specifically with the implication that this origin may have involved extraterrestrial sources. The concept suggests that the fundamental building blocks of life, or perhaps even life itself, originated on another celestial body and were transported to Earth. This transportation could have occurred through various means, such as meteorites, comets, or interplanetary dust.

The scientific investigation into xenogeneisia often overlaps with astrobiology and the study of panspermia. Panspermia is a related hypothesis that proposes that life exists throughout the universe, distributed by meteoroids, stellar winds, and other astronomical phenomena, and that "seeds" of life may be found on Earth. Xenogeneisia focuses more specifically on the *origin* of those seeds or building blocks being extraterrestrial, rather than just their widespread distribution.

Evidence that supports the possibility of xenogeneisia includes the discovery of organic molecules in meteorites and comets. These molecules, such as amino acids, are considered essential for life as we know it. The resilience of some microorganisms to extreme conditions, like radiation and vacuum, also lends credence to the idea that life could survive a journey through space. However, direct proof of life originating off-Earth and arriving on our planet remains elusive, and xenogeneisia continues to be a topic of theoretical interest and ongoing scientific inquiry.