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Biogenesis vs. Abiogenesis Explained

This document discusses the historical debate between abiogenesis and biogenesis. It describes key experiments by scientists like Redi, Needham, Spallanzani, and Pasteur that helped disprove abiogenesis and prove biogenesis. Redi showed that flies come from other flies, not rotting meat. Needham's experiments incorrectly supported abiogenesis until Spallanzani and especially Pasteur designed better controlled experiments using sealed containers, proving that life comes from pre-existing life and disproving spontaneous generation.

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Diana González
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2K views18 pages

Biogenesis vs. Abiogenesis Explained

This document discusses the historical debate between abiogenesis and biogenesis. It describes key experiments by scientists like Redi, Needham, Spallanzani, and Pasteur that helped disprove abiogenesis and prove biogenesis. Redi showed that flies come from other flies, not rotting meat. Needham's experiments incorrectly supported abiogenesis until Spallanzani and especially Pasteur designed better controlled experiments using sealed containers, proving that life comes from pre-existing life and disproving spontaneous generation.

Uploaded by

Diana González
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Biogenesis vs.

Abiogenesis
Biology 11

The secret to reaching my goals lies solely in my tenacity


-Louis Pasteur

Abiogenesis vs. Biogenesis


Introduction: Biology as a Science progressed by observation. The hypotheses proposed by early scientists were rarely tested by experiments.

Abiogenesis continued
Example: Pond dries up no fish or frogs Rain comes fish and frogs Therefore: It rained fish and frogs

Abiogenesis continued
Theory of Abiogenesis (aka spontaneous generation) Nonliving things can be transformed into living things. Proposed by Aristotle who observed rotting meat and flies. Existed for nearly 2000 years

Van Helmont continued

~300 years ago Belgian doctor Jean van Helmont concluded that mice could be created from a dirty shirt. He placed grains of wheat and a dirty shirt in a container and in 21 days mice appeared. Conclusion: Sweat caused wheat to ferment into mice. Abiogenesis!

Redi

In 1668 Francesco Redi (Italian physician) tested Aristotles hypothesis (meat flies)

Redi continued
4 sets of jars with meat (snake, eel, fish, veal) one set was open (experimental group) one set was sealed (control group) Maggots appeared on open jars of meat Conclusion: Flies come from flies! Biogenesis life from life.

Redi continued
Bad news lots of critics No air in jar, therefore life could not survive. Redi repeated his experiment with a fine mesh wire supported Biogenesis again! Critics still objected

Needham
John Needham (1713 1781) English botanist Reexamined theory of Abiogenesis Observed meat broth left unsealed soon changed colour (evidence of microorganisms).

Needham continued
Experiment: Boiled flasks of meat broth to kill microorganisms Left the flasks (unsealed) Flasks soon become murky and full of microbes

Needham continued
Conclusion: Abiogenesis AHHHHHHHHH!!!

Sent many Scientists down the wrong path.

Lazzaro Spallanzani (1729-1799)


25 years later Spallanzani repeated experiment more carefully Boiled flasks longer and sealed flasks Critics again objected to sealed flasks!

The Final Blow!


Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)

1864 Pasteur developed a swan-neck flask

Pasteur continued
Experiment: Boiled broth, air could enter but microbes were trapped in curved flask Broth remained clear Biogenesis finally proven!

The End!
Now here is your assignment: List and explain three flaws in experimental design that you have heard about during this presentation.

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