52.9k views
0 votes
While repeating Pasteur's experiment with the swan-necked flask, John Tyndall occasionally observed the opposite result. Tyndall noticed that the boiled broth in the swan-necked flask sometimes did give rise to microorganisms. Accordingly, he demonstrated that the broth was contaminated with

User Mcheah
by
4.8k points

2 Answers

3 votes

Final answer:

Pasteur's swan-necked flask experiment was instrumental in disproving spontaneous generation, showing that broth in the flask remained sterile unless the flask's neck was broken, allowing microorganisms to enter and cause contamination.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding Pasteur's Swan-Neck Flask Experiment

John Tyndall, while repeating Louis Pasteur's experiment with the swan-necked flask, occasionally observed microorganisms in the previously boiled broth, suggesting contamination. Pasteur's experiment was designed to disprove the theory of spontaneous generation. He used swan-necked flasks to boil broth and sterilize it. The unique shape allowed air but not microbes to enter due to the flask's twists and bends trapping airborne microorganisms. If the neck was intact, the broth remained sterile, but if it was broken, microorganisms could enter, leading to contamination and growth within the broth. This ultimately supported the germ theory of disease, indicating the role of microbes in contamination and infection.

Pasteur's design was crucial to prove that life did not spontaneously arise from non-living matter; instead, life forms from existing life, which he eloquently stated as "Omne vivum ex vivo" ("Life only comes from life"). Through these experiments, Pasteur was awarded and recognized, definitively refuting spontaneous generation.

User Michael Gendin
by
4.6k points
1 vote

Answer:

endospores

Step-by-step explanation:

Endospores are structures of bacteria whose function is to provide resistance and ensure the survival of the organism in an inappropriate environment. They have this name because they are produced inside the bacteria. Endospores are produced by bacteria when their environment is unfavorable to their survival. Endospores give rise to other bacteria, so we can say that if Tyndall noticed that the broth boiled in the swan neck balloon sometimes gave rise to microorganisms it means that the broth was contaminated with endospores.

User Aleju
by
5.2k points