Unit 1 Target 2: Spontaneous Generation Quiz

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  • 1/8 Questions

    What did Pasteur do in his experiments on spontaneous generation that other scientists before him had not done?

    • He boiled the broth in his flasks.
    • He sealed his flasks.
    • He used curve-necked flasks and left them open.
    • He added microorganisms to the broth before he boiled it.
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About This Quiz

This quiz explores the historical experiments related to spontaneous generation, featuring scientists like Lazzaro Spallanzani, Louis Pasteur, John Needham, and Francesco Redi. It assesses understanding of experimental flaws and the scientific method in disproving spontaneous generation, crucial for students of microbiology.

Unit 1 Target 2: Spontaneous Generation Quiz - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    Spontaneous generation was offered as an explanation for

    • The birth of live offspring from a mother.

    • The germination of a seed.

    • The appearance of maggots on rotting meat.

    • All of the answer choices are correct

    Correct Answer
    A. The appearance of maggots on rotting meat.
    Explanation
    Spontaneous generation was a theory that suggested living organisms could arise from non-living matter. It was commonly believed that maggots spontaneously generated from rotting meat. This theory was later disproven by experiments conducted by Francesco Redi and Louis Pasteur, who showed that maggots only appeared on meat when flies laid their eggs on it. Therefore, the correct answer is the appearance of maggots on rotting meat.

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  • 3. 

    How did Redi test the hypothesis of spontaneous generation?

    • He placed meat in one container and left another container empty. He then observed the containers for the appearance of maggots.

    • He placed meat in two containers and covered one of them. He then observed the containers for the appearance of maggots.

    • He placed meat in two containers and fly eggs in one of them. He then observed the containers for the appearance of maggots.

    • He placed adult flies in two containers, one with meat in it and one without. He then observed the containers for the appearance of maggots.

    Correct Answer
    A. He placed meat in two containers and covered one of them. He then observed the containers for the appearance of maggots.
    Explanation
    Redi tested the hypothesis of spontaneous generation by placing meat in two containers and covering one of them. By observing the containers for the appearance of maggots, Redi was able to determine whether maggots spontaneously generated from the meat or if they were the result of flies laying eggs on the meat. If maggots appeared only in the uncovered container, it would suggest that flies were responsible for the generation of maggots, supporting the idea of biogenesis rather than spontaneous generation.

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  • 4. 
    In an experiment, a scientist filled 2 open flasks, as shown in the figures, with broth and boiled the broth until it became clear. He then left the flasks open for several days. Which results would show that spontaneous generation did not occur? - ProProfs

    In an experiment, a scientist filled 2 open flasks, as shown in the figures, with broth and boiled the broth until it became clear. He then left the flasks open for several days. Which results would show that spontaneous generation did not occur?

    • The broth in both Flasks A and B remained clear.

    • The broth in both Flasks A and B became cloudy.

    • The broth in Flask A remained clear, and the broth in Flask B became cloudy.

    • The broth in Flask A became cloudy, and the broth in Flask B remained clear.

    Correct Answer
    A. The broth in Flask A became cloudy, and the broth in Flask B remained clear.
    Explanation
    If the broth in Flask A became cloudy and the broth in Flask B remained clear, it suggests that spontaneous generation did not occur. Spontaneous generation refers to the theory that living organisms can arise from non-living matter. In this experiment, if both flasks remained clear, it could indicate that the broth was contaminated with microorganisms that caused cloudiness. However, if only Flask A became cloudy, it suggests that the contamination occurred in that specific flask, while Flask B remained clear, indicating that the microorganisms did not spontaneously generate in the broth.

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  • 5. 

    Who helped disprove the idea of spontaneous generation by demonstrating that maggots come from fly eggs and NOT from meat?

    • Francesco Redi

    • John Needham

    • Lazzaro Spallanzani

    • Louis Pasteur

    Correct Answer
    A. Francesco Redi
    Explanation
    Francesco Redi helped disprove the idea of spontaneous generation by demonstrating that maggots come from fly eggs and not from meat. He conducted an experiment where he placed meat in two different jars - one covered and one uncovered. The meat in the uncovered jar attracted flies, which laid eggs on it, resulting in the development of maggots. However, the covered jar, which prevented flies from accessing the meat, did not produce any maggots. This experiment provided evidence that living organisms do not spontaneously generate but rather come from pre-existing living organisms.

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  • 6. 

    Lazzaro Spallanzani and Louis Pasteur both performed experiments hoping to disprove spontaneous generation. What conditions existed in Pasteur’s experiment that did not exist in Spallanzani’s?

    • Air could enter the flasks, but no microorganisms could enter.

    • No air could enter the flasks, but microorganisms could enter.

    • Neither air nor microoganisms could enter the flasks.

    • Both air and microorganisms could enter the flasks.

    Correct Answer
    A. Air could enter the flasks, but no microorganisms could enter.
    Explanation
    In Pasteur's experiment, air could enter the flasks but no microorganisms could enter. This was achieved by using curved neck flasks that allowed air to enter but prevented microorganisms from entering. This was a key difference from Spallanzani's experiment, where he sealed the flasks completely to prevent both air and microorganisms from entering. By allowing air to enter, Pasteur was able to show that the presence of microorganisms in the flasks was due to contamination from the air, rather than spontaneous generation.

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  • 7. 

    John Needham performed an experiment testing spontaneous generation. He boiled chicken broth, placed it in a sterile flask, and then sealed the flask. After a few days, Needham observed microorganisms in the flask. Based on current understanding, how was his experiment flawed?

    • Boiling activated dormant microorganisms present in the broth.

    • Boiling the broth did not kill all microorganisms present.

    • Microorganisms entered the broth from the flask itself after the flask was sealed.

    • After Needham boiled the broth, microorganisms entered from the air.

    Correct Answer
    A. Boiling the broth did not kill all microorganisms present.
    Explanation
    John Needham's experiment was flawed because boiling the broth did not kill all microorganisms present. This allowed the remaining microorganisms to continue growing and multiplying, leading to the observation of microorganisms in the flask after a few days.

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  • Apr 29, 2024
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Aug 13, 2014
    Quiz Created by
    Hbhutta
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