| − | Abiogenesis may also refer to [[spontaneous generation]], an archaic theory that stated that life could appear spontaneously under particular conditions. For example, pieces of cheese and bread wrapped in rags and left in dark areas were thought to produce mice, because after several week, mice appeared in the food. The same reasoning was applied to the appearance of maggots on decaying meat. <ref name="Dictionary Definition">[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/abiogenesis Abiogenesis from Reference.com]</ref> | + | Abiogenesis may also refer to [[spontaneous generation]], an archaic theory that stated that life could appear spontaneously under particular conditions. For example, pieces of cheese and bread wrapped in rags and left in dark areas were thought to produce mice, because after several weeks, mice appeared in the food. The same reasoning was applied to the appearance of maggots on decaying meat. <ref name="Dictionary Definition">[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/abiogenesis Abiogenesis from Reference.com]</ref> |