Theory of Spontaneous Generation

Study Notes

Life was thought to originate from non-living matter, a concept held until the 17th century.
Common examples included maggots emerging from decaying meat and mice from grain.

Aristotle: Established foundation for abiogenesis, suggesting life could emerge from non-life.
Francesco Redi (1668):
- Conducted experiments using meat in jars to show that maggots come from flies, not spontaneously from meat.
- His work challenged and helped to disprove the spontaneous generation theory.
John Needham (1745):
- Attempted to support spontaneous generation with an experiment using boiled broth.
- Concluded microbial growth indicated spontaneous generation; however, his flawed methodology allowed contamination due to inadequate boiling and unsealed flasks.
Lazzaro Spallanzani (1729-1799):
- Advanced the argument against spontaneous generation by suggesting that microorganisms in broth were due to air contamination.
- His experimental work laid crucial groundwork for Louis Pasteur's later research and contributed to the germ theory of disease.

Biogenesis, formulated in 1858 by Rudolf Virchow, states living organisms arise only from other living organisms.
Supported by Louis Pasteur’s experiments, which demonstrated that microorganisms originate from existing contaminants, not spontaneously from the air.

Renowned French microbiologist known for pivotal discoveries in vaccination, microbial fermentation, and pasteurization.
Acknowledged as the “Father of Bacteriology & Microbiology”.
His findings provided substantial evidence for the theory of biogenesis, asserting that complex living organisms derive only from reproduction.