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Spontaneous
Generation
Objectives
I can…
Argue that science is not about proving
ideas correct but rather disproving bad
ideas (understanding the Nature of Science)
Use the story of spontaneous generation
as an example of the scientific method
bringing us to more reliable knowledge.
Spontaneous generation
Hypothesis:
maggots came from
the eggs of flies
Redi’s Experiment
Results
Jar 2 = maggots appeared on netting
Flies were observed on netting
Redi’s Experiment
Results
Jar 3 = maggots did not appear at all in or
around the sealed jar
No flies were observed near jar 3
Redi’s Experiment
Conclusion:
The hypothesis was supported by the data
and therefore accepted
Because there were no maggots in or
around the jar it was concluded the maggots
came from the fly eggs.
Spallanzani’s Experiment
Procedure:
Spallanzani put broth into four flasks
Results
Flask 1 – left open to the air
Turned cloudy (microbes found)
Flask 2 – was sealed
Turned cloudy (microbes found)
Flask 3 – was boiled and left open
Turned cloudy (microbes found)
Flask 4 – was boiled then sealed
Did not turn cloudy (NO MICROBES)
Spallanzani’s Experiment
Conclusions:
The hypothesis was accepted
Because the combination of boiling the
broth (killing bacteria that were in the jar to
start) and sealing the jar (keeping bacteria
in the air out) it was concluded that boiling
does kill bacteria and that Microbes come
from the air.
Pasteur’s Experiment
Procedures:
Control Group
One flask of broth open to the air
Experimental group
One S-shaped flask that prevents dust from
entering the flask.
Pasteur’s Experiment
Procedure:
Pasteur put broth in both the open flask and into
special S-Shaped flasks and boiled it.
S-shaped flask was used to trap any dust
particles
Boiling was done to kill all the microbes already
in the flask.
Pasteur’s Experiment
Procedure (cont.)
Pasteur then watched to see if any changes
took place with the appearance of the broth
in the flasks.
If the broth became cloudy that meant microbes
were present
Pasteur’s Experiment
Results:
Open flask – the
broth became
cloudy
S-shaped flask –
the broth remain
clear
Dust was
observed in the
neck of the S-
shaped neck of
the flask.
Pasteur’s Experiment
Conclusion:
The hypothesis was supported by the data
therefore it was accepted.
Because the broth did not turn cloudy and
dust was observed trapped in the neck of
the S-Shaped flask, it was concluded that
the microbes came from cells of organisms
riding on dust particles.
The Scientific Method