Theodor Schwann

AND
Lazzaro Spallanzani
Contributions to Microbiology
 Agenda Page
INTRODUCTION EXPERIMENTS SIGNIFICANCE

01 + 02 + 03
Brief Biography on the Experiments performed by Significance of the
Scientists - Schwann & Scientists - Schwann & experiments to
Spallanzani Spallanzani Microbiology
 Introduction

Brief Biography on the Scientists -

Schwann & Spallanzani
i
Biography of Theodor Schwann
 Biography of Theodor Schwann
Theodor Schwann (1810–1882), a noted German physiologist, made similar microscopic
observations of animal tissue. In 1839, after a conversation with Schleiden, Schwann realized
that similarities existed between plant and animal tissues. This laid the foundation for the
idea that cells are the fundamental components of plants and animals.

According to Britannica (2024), at the University of Liège, Schwann investigated muscular

contraction and nerve structure, discovering the striated muscle in the upper esophagus and
the myelin sheath covering peripheral axons, now known as Schwann cells. He coined the
term metabolism for the chemical changes that take place in living tissue, identified the role
played by microorganisms in putrefaction, and formulated the basic principles of embryology
by observing that the egg is a single cell that eventually develops into a complete organism.
 Biography of Lazzaro Spallanzani
Lazzaro Spallanzani, born on January 12, 1729, in Scandiano, Italy, was a prominent 18th-
century biologist and physiologist (Belmont-Gasking, 2024). He is widely recognized for his
pioneering work in the fields of experimental biology and microbiology.

Spallanzani began his academic journey at the Jesuit College in Reggio Emilia and later
studied at the University of Bologna, where he focused on natural sciences, philosophy, and
theology. He became a priest in 1757 but continued his scientific pursuits, ultimately gaining
recognition for his research contributions.
 Biography of Lazzaro Spallanzani
One of Spallanzani's significant achievements came in the 1760s when he conducted
experiments challenging the prevailing theory of spontaneous generation. Through
meticulous experiments involving the boiling of nutrient-rich broths in sealed and open
containers, he demonstrated that microorganisms did not spontaneously generate but
instead came from pre-existing living matter.

Spallanzani's work also extended to the study of reproduction in animals, where he

conducted experiments on artificial insemination and the role of sperm in fertilization. He
made groundbreaking observations on the processes of digestion and respiration in animals,
contributing valuable insights to the understanding of physiological functions.
 Experiments

Experiments performed by Scientists - Schwann &

Spallanzani
 Experiments of Theodor Schwann

Theodor Schwann is most famous for his role in the

development of cell theory.From the years 1838-1839,
the German scientist Matthias Schleiden proposed the
first foundational belief about cells, that all plant
tissues are composed of cells (BD Editors, 2017).

Theodor Schwann concluded that all animal tissues

were made of cells as well. Schwann blended both
statements into one theory which said 1) All living
organisms consist of one or more cells and 2) The cell
is the basic unit of structure for all living organisms.
 Experiments of Theodor Schwann

Schwann observed various tissues and conducted

experiments on animal cells. He proposed that cells
are the fundamental units of life. One key experiment
involved studying the development of chicken
embryos, where he observed the formation of cells
and their role in the development of tissues.
 Experiments of Theodor Schwann

At Leuven, Schwann observed the formation of yeast

spores and concluded that the fermentation of sugar
and starch was the result of life processes (Britannica
Editors of Encyclopaedia, 2024). In this way, Schwann
was one of the first to contribute to the germ theory
of alcoholic fermentation, later elucidated by French
chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur.
 Experiments of Theodor Schwann

In 1836, while investigating digestive processes, he

isolated a substance responsible for digestion in the
stomach and named it pepsin, the first enzyme
prepared from animal tissue(Britannica Editors of
Encyclopaedia, 2024).

Schwann's work also includes:

- Disproving spontaneous generation
- Classifying different cells, which is the foundation
of modern histology
- Proving that yeasts themselves are living organisms
 Experiments of Lazzaro Spallanzani

His first biological work, published in 1767, was an attack on the

biological theory suggested by Georges Buffon and John
Turberville Needham, who believed that all living things contain,
in addition to inanimate matter, special “vital atoms” that are
responsible for all physiological activities (Belmont-Gasking,
2024).

Spallanzani sought to challenge the prevailing notion of

spontaneous generation, the idea that living organisms could
arise spontaneously from non-living matter. He conducted
experiments involving the boiling of nutrient-rich broths in
sealed and open containers. The sealed flasks remained free of
microorganisms, while the open ones showed microbial growth.
 Experiments of Lazzaro Spallanzani
The results of his regeneration and transplantation experiments appeared in
1768. He studied regeneration in a wide range of animals including
planarians, snails, and amphibians.

In 1773 he investigated the circulation of the blood through the lungs and
other organs and did an important series of experiments on digestion, in
which he obtained evidence that digestive juice contains special chemicals
that are suited to particular foods.

At the request of his friend Charles Bonnet, Spallanzani investigated the male
contribution to generation. Although the spermatozoa had first been seen in
the 17th century, their function was not understood until some 30 years after
the formulation of the cell theory in 1839.
 Experiments of Lazzaro Spallanzani

Using amphibians, Spallanzani showed that actual contact between egg and semen
is essential for the development of a new animal and that filtered semen becomes
less and less effective as filtration becomes more and more complete. He noted that
the residue on the filter paper retained all its original power if it were immediately
added to the water containing the eggs.

Spallanzani concluded that it was the solid parts of the secretion, proteinaceous and
fatty substances that form the bulk of the semen, that were essential, and he
continued to regard the spermatozoa as inessential parasites. Despite this error,
Spallanzani performed some of the first successful artificial insemination
experiments on lower animals and on a dog.
A picture is worth
a thousand words
 Significance

Significance of the experiments to Microbiology

 Significance of Schwann & Spallanzani’s Experiments to Microbiology

The experiments of Lazzaro Spallanzani and Theodor Schwann contributed to

microbiology by demonstrating that microorganisms are responsible for life forms,
and not spontaneous generation.

Spallanzani's experiments showed that sterilized broth remained free of

microorganisms until exposed to air. This suggested that airborne microorganisms
were the source of contamination. Spallanzani's work also showed that some
organisms can survive for long periods in a vacuum, which was the first practical
demonstration of anaerobiosis.
 Significance of Schwann & Spallanzani’s Experiments to Microbiology

In his experiment, Schwann exposed sterilized broth to heated air in a test tube. The
results showed that no microorganisms were detected, and no chemical changes
occurred within the broth. This allowed Schwann to conclude that the idea of
spontaneous generation is false.

Spontaneous generation is the hypothetical process by which living organisms

develop from nonliving matter. In 1839, Schwann realized that similarities existed
between plant and animal tissues. This laid the foundation for the idea that cells are
the fundamental components of plants and animals.
 Significance of Schwann & Spallanzani’s Experiments to Microbiology

Establishing the Role of Sperm: Spallanzani's experiments provided compelling

evidence for the importance of sperm in fertilization. His work challenged earlier
theories that suggested the female egg contained everything necessary for embryonic
development.

Understanding Artificial Insemination: By successfully performing artificial insemination

in frogs, Spallanzani not only contributed to the understanding of the reproductive
process but also opened doors for future research in assisted reproduction techniques.

Contributions to the Science of Embryology: Spallanzani's experiments advanced the

field of embryology by highlighting the necessity of both male and female
contributions to the formation of new life. This laid the groundwork for later studies on
fertilization and embryonic development.
 Resource Page
BD Editors. (2017). Cell Theory Timeline. Retrieved from
https://biologydictionary.net/cell-theory-timeline/

Belmont-Gasking, E. (2024). Lazzaro Spallanzani: Italian Physiologist. Retrieved from

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lazzaro-Spallanzani

Britanica Editors of Encyclopaedia. (2024). Theodor Schwann. Retrieved from

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Theodor-Schwann