Spontaneous generation.html



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Spontaneous generation is the term used to describe a historical theory regarding the origin of life. The theory is attributed to Aristotle. It is generally accepted to have been ultimately disproven by the experiments of Louis Pasteur, expanding upon the experiments of other scientists before him.

Examples of this theory, put forth by Aristotle, included the generation of maggots from rotting meat, mice from dirty hay, birds from trees, and lice from sweat.

However, these examples were disproven by scientists like Francisco Redi (1668), Lazarro Spallanzani (1858), and Louis Pasteur (1860).

The disproof of spontaneous generation is no longer controversial, now that the life cycles of maggots and other pests have been well documented.