abiogenicadj.
/ˌeɪbʌɪəʊˈdʒɛnɪk/, U.S. /ˌeɪˌbaɪoʊˈdʒɛnɪk/ Biology and Geology.
Of, relating to, or characterized by abiogenesis (in either sense); not derived from living organisms; of inorganic rather than biological origin. Opposed to biogenic adj. 1b. Cf. abiotic adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > organism > [adjective] > produced by > not produced by
abiogenetic1873
abiogenic1874
abiogenous1884
1874 Proc. Royal Soc. 1873–4 22 291 The action of the alkali is to heighten the surviving power of preexisting germs, and not to exalt the abiogenic aptitude of the infusion itself.
1891 19th Cent. Jan. 18 This method of creation may..have been repeated..with abiogenic germs.
1957 A. Synge tr. A. I. Oparin Origin Life on Earth (ed. 3) v. 153 During..those many millions of years which separate the time of the formation of the Earth from the appearance of life on it, there took place the abiogenic, organic-chemical evolution of carbon compounds.
1964 R. G. Wetzel in Internat. Rev. der Gesamten Hydrobiol. 49 33 The turbidity of Borax Lake is largely abiogenic.
1983 Precambrian Res. 23 1 (heading) Ancient microspheres: abiogenic, protobiogenic, or biogenic?
2001 New Scientist 19 May 38/2 Magnetite crystals can also be created by ‘abiogenic’ geological processes, and many researchers believe the Martian crystals were made in this way.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1874