Jain Biology: Abiogenesis Or Spontaneous Generation

Ancient scientists (like Aristotle—384-322 B.C.) thought that life can be made from dead matter, e.g. mullet fish is created from mud and sand, when dry ponds get filled with water.

The abiogenesists did experiments like the following: A hay infusion was prepared by boiling a little hay in water and keeping it for several days in an open bowl. The liquid soon became cloudy with millions of protozoa, bacteria and fungi

This theory of spontaneous generation was largely disproved by microbiological studies of Louis Pasteur (1822-1895). He argued that life was not created but fell into infusion from the air as cells or spores. Thus was spontaneous generation buried.