Francisco Redi
Francisco Redi was born in Arezzo, Italy in 1626. He later lived in Florence where he became a physician and poet. He created one of the first major experiments that disproved Spontaneous Generation. He managed to prove that maggots could not be formed from decaying meat in 1668.
He believed that the maggots were formed by the flies who would lay their eggs within in the meat. In order to test his hypothesis, he set out a variety of flasks. Some of the flasks were open to the air, some were sealed, and others were covered by gauze. In his experiment, he managed to show that the maggots only appeared in the flasks that were open to the air. This proved that flies could get into the flask and lay their eggs, and that the maggots did not just simply appear out of thin air.
Even though Redi managed to prove that the maggots did not just spontaneously appear, the belief in Spontaneous Generation remained strong. This was especially because there were microorganisms that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Even Redi himself still believed in certain aspects of Spontaneous Generation.
Francisco Redi's experiment with the rotting meat was also one of the very first experiments in which a control was used.
He believed that the maggots were formed by the flies who would lay their eggs within in the meat. In order to test his hypothesis, he set out a variety of flasks. Some of the flasks were open to the air, some were sealed, and others were covered by gauze. In his experiment, he managed to show that the maggots only appeared in the flasks that were open to the air. This proved that flies could get into the flask and lay their eggs, and that the maggots did not just simply appear out of thin air.
Even though Redi managed to prove that the maggots did not just spontaneously appear, the belief in Spontaneous Generation remained strong. This was especially because there were microorganisms that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Even Redi himself still believed in certain aspects of Spontaneous Generation.
Francisco Redi's experiment with the rotting meat was also one of the very first experiments in which a control was used.
The picture above shows the experiment that Francisco Redi conducted. The first set of images shows the container without a cover. The second picture shows the container with a cover. The third picture shows the container with gauze for a cover.