Which scientific principle helped to disprove spontaneous generation?

The principle that helped to disprove spontaneous generation is associated with Pasteurization and Germ Theory. Spontaneous generation was the outdated belief that living organisms could arise from non-living matter, such as the idea that maggots could spontaneously appear from decaying meat.

Louis Pasteur's experiments in the 19th century demonstrated that microbial life is responsible for fermentation and spoilage, and he showed that pathogens could be eliminated through heating substances, a process later known as pasteurization. His work led to the formulation of Germ Theory, which states that many diseases are caused by microorganisms. This provided conclusive evidence that life does not spontaneously arise from non-life, but rather that it originates from pre-existing microorganisms, effectively debunking the idea of spontaneous generation.

The other principles listed, while important in their own contexts, do not specifically address the fundamental issue of spontaneous generation in the way that Pasteurization and Germ Theory do. Cell Theory focuses on the basic unit of life being the cell and does not elaborate on the origins of life or the role of microorganisms in causing disease. Natural Selection and Evolutionary Theory pertain more to the development and adaptation of species over time rather than the origins of life itself.