Redi's experiment against spontaneous generation

What was discovered

A controlled experiment with open, closed and gauze-covered jars: maggots appeared only in meat accessible to flies. The first biological experiment with a control group.

What it led to

• the experimental method with controls in biology
• the gradual refutation of spontaneous generation (Spallanzani, Pasteur)
• entomology and parasitology

Built on

• Accademia del Cimento
• Harvey: omne vivum ex ovo

Made possible

• Spallanzani's heat sterilization experiments1765

📄 Original publication

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