Theories of life Flashcards
the origin of life is the natural process by which life has arisen from non-living matter, such as simple organic compounds.
abiogenesis
new living organisms can only emerge from other previously existing living organisms as a result of reproduction
biogenesis
is a superseded scientific theory that held that living creatures could arise from nonliving matter and that such processes were commonplace and regular
spontaneous generation
the idea that living organisms can develop from non-living matter (method: heat)
John Needham
opposes the theory of abiogenesis (method: meat)
Francesco Redi
imitated Needham’s experiment
Lazzaro Spallanzani
(aka father of pasteurization) - disapproved the theory of spontaneous generation; did the same thing (heated gravy) but used u- shaped glass. Stated that “life only comes from life.”
Louis Pasteur
life begins from a series of chemical reactions (Oparin & John Haldane’s proposal)
Alexander Oparin
used inorganic substance and tried to circulate it in the experiment, immerse it with the high energy and produced organic substance
Harold Urey & Stanley Miller experiment
is any self-regulating process by which an organism tends to maintain stability while adjusting to conditions that are best for its survival
Homeostasis
is the chemical reactions in the body’s cells that change food into energy.
metabolism
constructive metabolism, is all about building and storing
anabolism
the breakdown of complex molecules in living organisms to form simpler ones, together with the release of energy; destructive metabolism.
catabolism
the production of offspring
reproduction
the ability of an organism to move independently, using metabolic energy
motility
