Question

The idea of spontaneous generation that 'living things can originate spontaneously from non-living things' was

• A. Disproved by Aristotle.
• B. Widely believed prior to the 17th century.
• C. Never accepted by European scientists.
• D. Demonstrated in 1873, for bacteria and virus.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Widely believed prior to the 17th century.

Spontaneous generation or anomalous generation is an obsolete body of thought on the ordinary formation of living organisms without descent from similar organisms. Typically, the idea was that certain forms such as fleas could arise from inanimate matter such as dust, or that maggots could arise from dead flesh. The doctrine of spontaneous generation was coherently synthesized by Aristotle which was widely believed prior to 17th century. Francesco Redi in the 17th century, had performed experiments to disprove spontaneous generation. Thus, option B is correct.
Spontaneous generation was synthesized by Aristotle. Thus, option A is wrong.
Spontaneous generation was accepted by European scientists and not demonstrated in 1873 for bacteria and virus. Thus, option C and D are wrong.

Thus, the correct answer is option B.