Question

Name the scientist who disproved the theory of spontaneous generation.
A. Aristotle, Linnaeus, and Darwin
B. Francesco Redi, Lazzaro Spallanzani, and Louis Pasteur
C. Bentham and Hooker
D. Mendel, Francis Crick, and Hugo de Vries

Answer 1

Hint: In the 17th and 18th centuries, three scientists conducted experiments to prove that life does not originate from non-living matter or inanimate objects (the theory of spontaneous generation).

Complete answer:
In 1668, the theory of spontaneous generation was popularized. According to this theory, life originated from inanimate objects. This theory suggested that a pot filled with wheat will give rise to the rats, rotting of meat will give rise to maggots, and so on. Three scientists Francesco Redi, Lazzaro Spallanzani, and Louis Pasteur disapproved of this theory. Francesco Redi, an Italian scientist conducted experiments by using open flasks, sealed flasks, and gauze covered flasks and placed the meat in each one of them. In open flasks, maggots appeared due to the egg-laying flies and not by the meat.
Lazzaro Spallanzani used broth and proved that the microorganisms appeared not due to the broth; it's because of the microorganisms present in the air because even boiling cannot prevent the growth of microorganisms. Louis Pasteur used an S-shaped broth and boiled a broth and observed that all the microorganisms deposited in the neck region and there is no microbial growth observed in the broth because it was not exposed to the air.

Hence, the correct option is B, i.e., Francesco Redi, Lazzaro Spallanzani and Louis Pasteur.

Note: For a long period, people believed in the spontaneous theory of creation that life originated from organic matter. Francesco Redi disapproved of this theory for large organisms when he showed that maggots originate from meat only when flies lay eggs on the meat. Louis Pasteur ended this debate by his swan-neck flask experiment.