Spontaneous Generation Theory

Spontaneous Generation Theory

Introduction

Microbiology could be defined as the study of those micro organisms that cannot be seen with naked eyes. It includes viruses, bacteria, protozoa, algae and fungi (Sharma et.al, 2006, pp. 2).

History of Microbiology

Microorganisms existence dates back to as early as 1600s where they were found using earlier microscopes. In spite of their dated existence, the field of microbiology emerged before 150 years approximately (Wainwright et.al, 1992, PP. 419). It was a belief of earlier days that living organisms generate from non-living organisms. Aristotle and his contemporaries supported this theory. The development of microscope enhanced the field of microbiology. The discovery of Robert Hooke in 1660 of biological materials observed under the best microscope available that time could serve as a chain in the beginning of microbiology (Prescott, 2007). In 1674, Anton van Leeuwenhoek noticed microorganisms first in a drop of lake water.

Practical and scientific aspects of microbiology have got close knots since the starting. This could be taken as a reason why microbiology did not develop in the early centuries. The microbiologists of the nineteenth century were either chemist or physicians and sometimes botanists. During that time, the field of microbes was emerging for solving the practical issues of the field of fermentation and medicine. The practical problems that came in medicine and fermentation stimulated the emergence of microbiology (Encyclopedia, 2013).

World War II served in expanding the field of microbiology. Just before the publication of Watson and Crick model in 1953 the period in between 1930-1950 is taken as the amazing era for microbiological transformations. Many things of that time span are reportable including the “System of Biology in 1930”, the “Annual review of Microbiology in 1947” and “Bacteriological Reviews beginning from 1937” (Wainwright et.al, 1992, PP. 419).

The Theory of Spontaneous Generation

Spontaneous theory focuses on the hypothesis that some vital power inside or provided to the organic matter could result in its transformation into living organisms. This theory was a common wide spread belief of the Middle Ages and was focused upon until the end of 19th century (The Microbial World, 2006). Even the great minds of the ancient period had this view.

Experiment Supporting the Theory of Spontaneous Generation

Many experiments were performed to prove the theory of spontaneous generation. One experiment was of creating mice from the wheat kernels. According to this experiment a dirty underwear and wheat grains if left in open for 21 days and placed together in a bucket would result in producing mice. This mice production led to the creation of strong belief of the proponents of that time that mice production has occurred from the wheat grains (The Microbial World, 2006). The Spontaneous Generation Controversy

In 1668, a physician named Francesco Redi first questioned the spontaneous generation theory. At that time emergence of maggots from open laid meat was another strong experiment for the theory of spontaneous generation. Redi suspected that the flies sitting on the open kept meat lay eggs on it which eventually transforms into ...