nonliving things. 2. Biogenesis – life only comes from other living things 3. Cosmogenesis – life on Earth came from another part of our solar system or galaxy • Meteorites contain organic compounds • Conditions necessary for life may have existed on other planets or moons 4. Special creation – all religious beliefs Scientists who have contributed to the theory of Biogenesis 1668-Francesco Redi • Observed flies land on meat that later develops maggots. • Hypothesis: Maggots come from flies • Experiment control - jars with meat covered experimental – jars with meat open • Results: open jar had flies and maggots • Conclusion: maggots come from flies Critics said there were no maggots in the closed jar because there was no air!
Redi redesigned his experiment and covered the
jar with netting. Result: Flies and maggots were on the netting, not in the jar. His hypothesis was correct!
First scientist to use a control group
1668 -Redi 1700’s - Spallanzani Hypothesis: microbes do not come from broth Experiment: Flask with boiled gravy left open – microbes grew Flask with boiled gravy sealed – no growth
Critics said “no air “– no redesign
1868 - Pasteur • Redesigned Spallanzani’s experiment using a swan-necked flask • Flask was left open - no growth Critics said “bad broth”
• Pasteur broke off the neck and growth began
Persevered and proved his point! Pasteur’s swan-necked flask: