Question

select all the correct answers.
before the discovery of cells, people believed in the theory of spontaneous generation. according to this theory, living things can come from nonliving things. on the basis of this theory, people believed that maggots that formed on cheese spontaneously arose from the cheese. which two statements disprove this theory of spontaneous generation?

• all matter is made of cells.
• all living things are made of cells.
• cells are generally microscopic and impossible to detect with the naked eye
• living cells can only come from previously existing matter.
• cells form from previously existing cells.

Explanation:

Spontaneous generation claims living things arise from non-living matter. To disprove it, we need statements that confirm life only comes from pre-existing life/cells:

1. "Living cells can only come from previously existing matter" directly contradicts the idea of life from non-living things, as it states life requires pre-existing living material.
2. "Cells form from previously existing cells" (part of cell theory) confirms new cells only come from living cells, not non-living substances like cheese, disproving spontaneous generation.

Other options either describe cell properties or incorrect claims (all matter is not made of cells) that do not address the core of spontaneous generation.

Answer:

D. Living cells can only come from previously existing matter.
E. Cells form from previously existing cells.