What is theory of spontaneous generation ?

Life arose from non-living things only.

The correct answer is Option (1) -Life arose from non-living things only.

The theory of spontaneous generation, also known as abiogenesis, proposed that life could arise spontaneously from non-living matter. This theory suggested that living organisms could emerge directly from inanimate materials such as decaying organic matter, mud, or even through a combination of air and water without the need for pre-existing life forms or parental organisms.

The concept of spontaneous generation was prevalent for many centuries as an explanation for the appearance of certain organisms. For example, it was once believed that maggots could spontaneously generate from rotting meat or that mice could arise from grain or straw left in a dark corner.

However, with the advancements in scientific understanding and the development of experimental techniques, spontaneous generation was disproved through experiments conducted by scientists like Francesco Redi and Louis Pasteur. Their experiments demonstrated that living organisms only arise from pre-existing life forms through reproduction, and they refuted the idea of spontaneous generation. This led to the acceptance of the principle of biogenesis, which states that life arises only from other living organisms.