The
discovery
of
the
microbial
world
immediately
raised
questions
regarding
the
origin
of
microorganisms.
It
was
by
then
well
recognized
that
living
organisms
such
as
plants
and
animals
do
not
originate
spontaneously.
Yet,
some
believed
that
these
microorganisms
arose
spontaneously
and
this
theory
came
to
be
known
as
the
theory
of
spontaneous
origin
or
a
biogenesis.
During
the
next
few
years
a
large
number
of
experiments
were
done
to
either
support
or
oppose
this
theory.
Unfortunately,
some
of
these
were
extremely
faulty
and,
led
to
wrong
conclusions.
One
of
the
first
to
provide
evidence
that
microorganisms
do
not
arise
spontaneously
in
organic
infusions
was
the
Italian,
Lazzaro
Spallanzani,
who
in
the
middle
of
the
18th
century
conducted
a
number
of
experiments
on
this
problem.
He
could
show
repeatedly
that
the
growth
of
micro
organisms
infusions
can
be
prevented
by
beating.
However,
if
such
infusions
were
exposed
to
air
after
heating,
these
underwent
spoilage.
He
concluded
that
air
contained
microorganisms
and
these
were
carried
into
the
infusions
which
were
kept
open
after
heating
and
subsequently
caused
spoilage.
Index >> History of Microbiology
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