Question

Robert Hooke saw the first cork cells in 1665. He also coined the word "cell" at the same time. During the next 150 years, scientists developed cell theory. They discovered cell organelles and described the cell as the basic unit of all life. One point of cell theory was NOT accepted until the early 1900's. That point was the cells give rise to other cells. For much of this time, many scientists still believed that cells just appeared. That idea was called spontaneous generation. People believed that living cells to develop from non-living things, like meat or soup.

Why did it take over 150 years for the scientific community to accept the last point of cell theory: cells give rise to other cells?
A) Microscopes were inferior to those we use today.
B) The scientific community did not continue to research cell theory.
C) Spontaneous generation was supported by religious views of the day.
D) Without refrigerators it was easy to believe spontaneous generation.

Answer 1

C

Step-by-step explanation:

Three scientists over 150 years disproved spontaneous generation. The technology was advanced enough for the research. But the idea, event when proved false, was attractive because spontaneous generation was supported by religious views of the day.

Answer 2

The correct answer is option C, that is, spontaneous generation was supported by religious views of the day.

Cell theory was given by Rudolf Virchow and Louis Pasteur, according to which the cells arise from the pre-existing cells. Prior to cell theory, it was believed that life started due to spontaneous generation, that is, the origination of life started from non-living matter.

According to this theory, it was considered that dust creates fleas, maggot originates from the rotten meat, bread, and wheat left in the dark corner give rise to mice. Louis Pasteur was the first scientist to show that cells arise from the pre-existing cells that took hundreds of years to prove that.