Controversy of Spontaneous Generation

The controversy over spontaneous generation involved whether living organisms could arise suddenly from non-living matter, like flies appearing from rotting meat or mice emerging from straw. Historically, some believed life spontaneously emerged without parents. However, experiments by scientists like Louis Pasteur showed that life comes from existing organisms, not spontaneously. This shifted understanding to germ theory, recognizing that microorganisms cause decay and disease, leading to the rejection of spontaneous generation. The debate was pivotal in developing microbiology and understanding that life arises from pre-existing life, establishing a foundation for modern biology.