Spontaneous generation

The spontaneous generation is the notion that life can spring forth from inanimate material. Spontaneous generation previously explained the observations that maggots could arise from decaying meat and fleas arose from dust.

The plague doctor wore a mask to protect from “bad air”.

The discovery of the microscopic world enlightened scientists and aided in abolishing spontaneous generation and furthered invented the field of microbiology. Prior to this, a popular idea for spread of diseases like bubonic plague involved the spread of miasma (“bad air”). To protect himself from the bad air, the plague doctor wore a beaked mask filled with fragrant items and a built in respirator.

Life arises from life (Biogenesis)

Learn how the study of spread of disease led to the germ theory.

Pasteur, fermentation and the germ theory

Pasteur’s experiments on spontaneous generation.
Animated version of Pasteur’s experiments on spontaneous generation.

Pasteur conducted experiments with the fermentation of nutrient broth in goose-necked flasks.

Goose-necked flasks could be boiled to sterilize the nutrients while protecting the contents from contacting external microbes. The removal of the goose-neck or movement of broth into the goose-neck resulted in the subsequent fermentation of nutrient broth while the intact flasks remained sterile.