This episode will help you answer the question, “Where does life come from?” and introduces the (debunked) theory of spontaneous generation and the (strongly supported by evidence) theory of biogenesis.

Remember, “smart” is something we *become* as we learn new things. So, keep listening, keep learning, and keep getting smarter every day!

This episode is part of a series all about understanding the nature of life—the characteristics of living things, how we classify life, and even where life comes from. Each season has a different thematic focus, so if you found this episode interesting or helpful, check out the rest of the episodes in this season! Instructional resources for this episode, including the script, a thinksheet, and alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards can be accessed for free at https://goodtobesmart.com

It’s Good to Be Smart! is created by Dr. Dave Mulder with support from the National Science Foundation through a grant from the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. (DUE-2243334). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.