Abstract
The topic of this study is an outgrowth of the stimulating discussions which occurred in a graduate course in Biological Concepts at Sacramento State College in the Spring of 1956, under the direction of Prof. J. H. Severaid. The writer prepared a term paper for this course dealing with the historical background of the concept of biogenesis. In connection with this precursory investigation, Dr. Severaid proposed that a detailed study of the concept of biogenesis in light of modern research might be a challenging task. Consequently, the writer's term paper for the above course has been expanded into this dissertation.
EXCERPT FROM PROLOGUE:
Being the biology teacher in your school, you probably also teach physical science courses and courses of introductory chemistry. One of your aims is to help your students to orientate themselves and find their place in life by means of scientific inquiry. You probably hope that you may be able to plant in the puzzled minds of your students the seed of admiration for Nature. You might also hope that you may succeed in arousing genuine interest in the scientific method of finding answers and exploring nature. If your students are not puzzled, you also hope to open their minds toward new vistas and to awake their desire to know by connecting their unrelated fragments of knowledge, and by teaching them how such knowledge can broaden and deepen their lives...