abiogenesis

[ ey-bahy-oh-jen-uh-sis, ab-ee-oh- ]

noun

, Biology.

1. the theory that the earliest life forms on earth developed from nonliving matter. Compare biogenesis.
2. Also called spon·ta·ne·ous gen·er·a·tion [spon-, tey, -nee-, uh, s jen-, uh, -, rey, -sh, uh, n]. the now discredited theory that living organisms can arise spontaneously from inanimate matter.

abiogenesis

/ ˌeɪbaɪəʊˈdʒɛnɪsɪs; ˌeɪbaɪˈɒdʒɪnɪst /

noun

1. Also calledautogenesis the hypothetical process by which living organisms first arose on earth from nonliving matter
2. another name for spontaneous generation Compare biogenesis

abiogenesis

/ ā′bī-ō-jĕn′ĭ-sĭs /

1. See spontaneous generation

Derived Forms

• ˌabiogeˈnetic, adjective
• abiogenist, noun

Other Words From

• a·bi·o·ge·net·ic [ey-bahy-oh-j, uh, -, net, -ik, ab-ee-oh-], a·bi·o·ge·net·i·cal adjective
• a·bi·o·ge·net·i·cal·ly adverb
• a·bi·og·e·nist [ey-bahy-, oj, -, uh, -nist, ab-ee-], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of abiogenesis¹

a- ⁶ + biogenesis; coined by T. H. Huxley in 1870

Word History and Origins

Origin of abiogenesis¹

C19: New Latin, from a- ¹+ bio- + genesis

Example Sentences

On the surface, the idea of abiogenesis does seem illogical, and the timescales — millions and billions of years — are barely comprehendible to the human mind.

From Salon

For instance, Kipping questions the assumption that intelligence emerged at some fixed time after abiogenesis.

From Scientific American

The study could shed light on how early, inorganic proteins progressed until they stopped being inanimate and formed living cells — a process known as abiogenesis.

From Salon

If biology is the extrinsic appearance of conscious subjects other than the inanimate universe itself, then the quest for artificial sentient entities boils down to abiogenesis: the artificial creation of biology from inanimate matter.

From Scientific American

These scientific priorities could be to do with the details of abiogenesis - the transitiion from non-living to 'living' chemical systems and the role of polymers like RNA.

From Scientific American