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HSC Stuff => HSC Science Stuff => HSC Subjects + Help => HSC Biology => Topic started by: I.09 on May 18, 2021, 06:08:22 pm

Title: SPONTANEOUS GENERATION I AM SO STUCK
Post by: I.09 on May 18, 2021, 06:08:22 pm

Hey Guys,

I know that the Theory of Spontaneous Generation is about the development of living things from non living matter. I am so confused as to how this theory can account for the development of infectious diseases before the Germ Theory?

Please,
Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Title: Re: SPONTANEOUS GENERATION I AM SO STUCK
Post by: Coolmate on May 18, 2021, 07:42:09 pm

Quote from: I.09 on May 18, 2021, 06:08:22 pm

Hey Guys,

I know that the Theory of Spontaneous Generation is about the development of living things from non living matter. I am so confused as to how this theory can account for the development of infectious diseases before the Germ Theory?

Please,
Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Hey I.09! :D

Your definition of Spontaneous Generation is spot on! :)

These are my thoughts:
The Theory of Spontaneous Generation was capable of accounting for the development of infectious diseases because of the "Miasma Theory". Miasma theory is the theory that a poisonous "cloud" or some kind of invisible "bad air" causes infectious diseases.

For Example, it was thought that infectious diseases were caught from the odour of rotting foods or decomposing matter, not from "germs" on surfaces or skin etc. (We now know that this is wrong)

This theory is now obsolete and so too Spontaneous Generation. The current theory we refer to is, "Germ Theory", as supported by Louis Pasteur's Swan Necked Flask experiment, demonstrating that infectious agents do not randomly generate.

These videos may help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9LC-3ZKiok&ab_channel=TED-Ed

The first few minutes of this one --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7zgHcxNAX4&ab_channel=Audiopedia

I hope this helps!
Coolmate 8)

Title: Re: SPONTANEOUS GENERATION I AM SO STUCK
Post by: I.09 on May 18, 2021, 11:02:17 pm

Thank you so much:)

So then would I be right in saying that:
Spontaneous generation believed that living matter such as germs were produced by non-living matter such as decaying matter, which gave a "miasma" into the air which was responsible for infectious diseases.

And is the spontaneous generation accounting for the development of decay and diseases or is it infectious diseases?

Title: Re: SPONTANEOUS GENERATION I AM SO STUCK
Post by: I.09 on May 19, 2021, 04:39:13 pm

Hi,
 I have another question about Pasteur's experiment. Is there a reason why the flasks are not exposed to sunlight?

Please any advice/info
Thank you in advance