Final answer:
Spontaneous generation is the belief that life can arise from non-living matter. This theory was disproven by scientists such as Louis Pasteur.
Step-by-step explanation:
Spontaneous generation is the belief that life can arise from non-living matter. It was a long-held belief dating back to Aristotle and the ancient Greeks. However, this theory was eventually disproven by scientists such as Louis Pasteur, who conducted experiments to definitively refute the idea.