VerifiedHint: Louis Pasteur was an exemplary scientist of his time who invented the technique of pasteurisation, which is still used to make pasteurised milk.The theory of abiogenesis, which posits that life arose spontaneously from non-living matter, is not definitively disproved experimentally but is rather challenged or limited in its explanatory power by certain experiments and evidence.
Complete answer:
Abiogenesis refers to the natural process of life arising from non-living matter, such as simple organic compounds. It is a scientific hypothesis about the origin of life on Earth, distinct from the disproven concept of spontaneous generation, which suggested that fully formed life (e.g., flies or mice) could arise spontaneously from non-living material.
Scientific studies such as that of Louis Pasteur showed that living things could not spontaneously produce from inanimate objects with the introduction of laboratory instruments and microbial techniques. Just living things can arise from another life by the process of reproduction.
He showed that sterilised broth in a flask, protected from microbial contamination, remained free of life indefinitely, disproving the idea of spontaneous generation under observable conditions.
However, these experiments addressed the spontaneous generation of fully formed organisms (like bacteria) and not the origin of life from non-living molecules, which is a broader question.
Louis Pasteur Experiment:
Louis Pasteur conducted the theory of biogenesis to state that life arises from pre-existing life. He conducted an experiment using an S-shaped flask known as a swan neck flask. He added broth enriched with the nutrients in one of the bottles and boiled it. The process of boiling to kill any germs present is called pasteurisation. He left the infusion undisturbed for some time. After the prescribed time he found that the broth colour had not changed. Since the flask had S- shaped neck bend the germs were not able to enter the same, thus preventing contamination of liquid.
He repeated the experiment by tipping the particles into the flask body. This time, he has seen the germs come to the infusion and spoiled it completely. Hence, he stated that different germs in the air disturbs the broth. Thus, he stated that the theory of abiogenesis is incorrect, which tells that living organisms arise from non-living matter. He concluded that with biogenesis, new living things can be created through reproduction.
Hence, Louis Pasteur disproved the abiogenesis theory experimentally.
Note: Louis Pasteur is a French scientist known as the father of immunology. The theory of spontaneous generation was also disproved by showing maggots didn’t arise from a dirty cloth unless maggot eggs were present in it already.
