Question

The theory of spontaneous generation was firmly rejected by the work of

• A. Alexander Oparin
• B. Louis Pasteur
• C. Georges Lemaitre
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is B Louis Pasteur

$\begin{array}{cccc}\text{Scientist's Name}& \text{Year}& \text{Experiment}& \text{Observation}\\ \text{Francesco Redi}& 1668& \text{He placed meat in two jars}& \text{Obseved that maggots}\\ & & \text{and left one open and the other covered.}& \text{developed in the uncovered jar.}\\ \text{Lazzaro}& 1764& \text{Boiled animal and vegetable Broths}& \text{Found no signs of living}\\ \text{Spallanzani}& 1764& \text{and sealed them immediately.}& \text{things in the broth.}\\ \text{Louis Pasteur}& 1864& \text{Boiled animal and vegetable broths,}& \text{Observed microorganisms in straight necked flask}\\ & & \text{in a straight flask and a swan necked flask (to}& \text{but not in the other one.This firmly established}\\ & & \text{restrict air movement) and kept both open.}& \text{that air is the source of these organisms.}\end{array}$
The given table summarises the experiments conducted by renowned scientists who disproved the theory of spontaneous generation. Conceptually, the experiments conducted by these three scientists came to lay the foundations for the theory of biogenesis (life from life) wherein they explain that life originates from pre-existing life, which completely disproves the theory of spontaneous generation (life from inanimate objects).