The Theory of Spontaneous Generation

Question 1

A greek philosopher was one of the earliest recorded scholars to articulate the theory of spontaneous generation, the notion that life can arise from nonliving matter

Answer 1

Aristotle (384-322 BC)

Question 2

an Italian Physician performed an experiment in 1688 that was one of the first to disprove the idea that maggots (larvae of flies) spontaneously generate on meat left out in the open air

Answer 2

Francesco Redi (1626-1697)

Question 3

He concluded that maggots could only form when flies were allowed to lay eggs in the meat, and that the maggots were the offspring of flies, not the product of spontaneous generation

Answer 3

Francesco Redi

Question 4

he published in 1745 a report of his own experiments, he briefly boiled broth infused with plant or animal matter hoping to kill all preexisting microbes

Answer 4

John Needham (1713-1781)

Question 5

Needham

Answer 5

he likely dis not boil the broth enough to kill all preexisting microbes

Question 6

he dis not agree with Needham’s conclusions however he performed hundreds of carefully executed experiment using heated broth

Answer 6

Lazzaro Spallanzani (1729-1799)

Question 7

Needham’s experiment

Answer 7

broth in sealed jara and unsealed jars was infused with plant and animal matter

Question 8

Spallanzani’s result contradicted the findings of Needham

Answer 8

Heated but sealed flasks remained clear, without any signs of spontaneous growth, unless the flasks were subsequently opened to the air.

Question 9

were introduced into theses flasks from the air

Answer 9

Microbes