Theory of Spontaneous Generation PDF

The Theory of Spontaneous Generation Theory of Spontaneous Generation - Belief that life can arise from non-living matter - Widely accepted until 17th century - Examples: maggots from decaying meat, and mice from grain Aristotle - Foundation of abiogenesis (spontaneous generation) Franc...

The Theory of Spontaneous Generation Theory of Spontaneous Generation - Belief that life can arise from non-living matter - Widely accepted until 17th century - Examples: maggots from decaying meat, and mice from grain Aristotle - Foundation of abiogenesis (spontaneous generation) Francesco Redi (1668) - Challenged the idea with his meat and maggot experiment - Disproving the theory of spontaneous generation, which posited that living organisms could arise from non-living matter. John Needham (1745) - To prove that life could spontaneously arise from non-living matter.  - Claimed to support spontaneous generation with boiled broth experiment. - He conducted an experiment by boiling a mutton broth to kill existing microbes and then leave unsealed the flasks. After a few days, he saw microbial growth and concluded that life had spontaneously generated. - However, he didn’t boil the broth long enough to kill all microbes, and the seals on his flasks weren’t airtight, allowing contamination from the air. This led to a mistaken belief in spontaneous generation. Lazzaro Spallanzani (1729-1799) - Italian biologist & physiologist - Pioneer in the field of experiment - Known for his research in reproduction, echolocation, and refutation of spontaneous generation a. Hypothesis: Microorganisms from the air contaminate the broth, not spontaneous generation b. Impact on Science: Paved the way for Pasteur’s experiment c. Conclusion: Spallanzani’s work was crucial in disproving spontaneous generation, and his findings contributed to the germ theory of disease. 2 Biogenesis – is the theory that living things can only come from other living things. Developed in 1858 by Rudolf Virchow as a counter- hypothesis to spontaneous generation. Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) - French chemist, pharmacist, and microbiologist renowned for his discoveries of the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation and pasteurization, the last of which named after him. One of the founders of modern bacteriology and honored as the “Father of Bacteriology & Microbiology”. 3  a. Evidence supporting Biogenesis: Pasteur further propelled the theory of biogenesis by providing evidence that microorganisms do not appear as a result of air, but as a result of contaminants within the air. b. Conclusion: Complex living things come only from other living things by reproduction. Creationism Theory – God created everything on earth at once. Genesis verse 1: beginning, he created heavens & earth Genesis verse 3-5: light (first day) Genesis verse 6-8: vault between waters to separate water from water (second day) 4  Genesis verse 11-13: produce vegetation seed-bearing plants & trees on land with seed in it, according to their various kinds (third day) Genesis verse 14-19: lights in the sky to separate day & night, serve as signs to mark sacred times, days & years (fourth day) Genesis verse 20-23: creates all the creatures of the seas, as well as the birds in the sky (fifth day) Genesis verse 24-25: produce living creatures according to its livestock, creatures that move along the ground & wild animals Genesis verse 26-31: make mankind so that they may rule over the fish, birds, livestock & wild animals and creatures that moves along the ground. In his own image, he created male & female. 5