<P> Aristotle claimed that eels were lacking in sex and lacking milt, spawn and the passages for either . Rather, he asserted eels emerged from earthworms . Later authors dissented . Pliny the Elder did not argue against the anatomic limits of eels, but stated that eels reproduce by budding, scraping themselves against rocks, liberating particles that become eels . Athenaeus described eels as entwining and discharging a fluid which would settle on mud and generate life . On the other hand, Athenaeus also dissented towards spontaneous generation, claiming that a variety of anchovy did not generate from roe, as Aristotle stated, but rather, from sea foam . </P> <P> As the dominant view of philosophers and thinkers continued to be in favour of spontaneous generation, some Christian theologians accepted the view . Augustine of Hippo discussed spontaneous generation in The City of God and The Literal Meaning of Genesis, citing Biblical passages such as "Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life" (Genesis 1: 20) as decrees that would enable ongoing creation . </P> <P> From the fall of the Roman Empire in 5th century to the East - West Schism in 1054, the influence of Greek science declined, although spontaneous generation generally went unchallenged . New descriptions were made . Of the numerous beliefs, some had doctrinal implications outside of the Book of Genesis . For example, the idea that a variety of bird known as the barnacle goose emerged from a crustacean known as the goose barnacle, had implications on the practice of fasting during Lent . In 1188, Gerald of Wales, after having traveled in Ireland, argued that the "unnatural" generation of barnacle geese was evidence for the virgin birth . Where the practice of fasting during Lent allowed fish, but prohibited fowl, the idea that the goose was in fact a fish suggested that its consumption be permitted during Lent . The practice was eventually prohibited by decree of Pope Innocent III in 1215 . </P> <P> Aristotle, in Arabic translation, was reintroduced to Western Europe . During the 13th century, Aristotle reached his greatest acceptance . With the availability of Latin translations Saint Albertus Magnus and his student, Saint Thomas Aquinas, raised Aristotelianism to its greatest prominence . Albert wrote a paraphrase of Aristotle, De causis et processu universitatis, in which he removed some and incorporated other commentaries by Arabic scholars . The influential writings of Aquinas, on both the physical and metaphysical, are predominantly Aristotelian, but show numerous other influences . </P>

What was the role played by spontaneous generation to advance microbiology