Chapter 14, Problem 17A

Summary Introduction

To replace:

The underlined words with a correct vocabulary term from the Study Guide page

Introduction: Evidence indicates that a sequence of chemical events preceded the origin of life on Earth and that life has evolved continuously over time. There are many theories that attempted to explain the origin of life from spontaneous generation to theory of biogenesis to the endosymbiont theory.

Answer to Problem 17A

Spontaneous generation was disproven by Redi and Pasteur.

Explanation of Solution

One of the oldest ideas about origin of life is spontaneous generation. It states that life arises from nonliving matter. Redi and Pasteur tested the idea of spontaneous generation. Redi in 1668 tested on flies and found that flies- not meat- produced other flies. He hypothesized that maggots and flies did not arise spontaneously from rotting meat. Later in mid 1800s the idea of spontaneous generation was replaced by theory of biogenesis. This theory was proposed by Pasteur. It stated that only living organisms can produce other living organisms.

Hence the theory of spontaneous generation was disproven by Redi and Pasteur.