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Francesco Redi
Published the first set of experiments challenging spontaneous generation. Redi, was able to disprove the theory that maggots could be spontaneously generated from meat. He took 8 jars and put muslin over 4 and nothing over the others. The uncovered developed maggots, while the covered did not. -
John Needham
John Needham tried to prove that spontaneous generation would happen in smaller organisms with right circumstances (tried to revive theory). He thought that if he took chicken broth and heated it, all living things in it would die. After heating, he let it cool in a flask and the development of a thick solution of microorganisms would prove spontaneous generation to be true. -
John Needham presented his theory
John Needham presented his theory of spontaneous generation and tried to give scientific evidence to support it. -
Lazzaro Spallanzani published his results
Lazzaro Spallanzani published his results showing the falsehood of spontaneous generation. -
Lazzaro repeated Needham’s original experiment
Lazzaro repeated Needham’s original experiment but removed air from flask, the results of the experiment proved Needham’s answers to be wrong -
Louis Pasteur shows spontaneous generation doesn’t occur
Louis Pasteur shows spontaneous generation doesn’t occur -
Alhumbert Prize
Louis Pasteur won the Alhumbert Prize -
Thomas H. Huxley gave a speech
Thomas H. Huxley gave a speech supporting Pasteur’s claims
