BIOLOGY ASSIGNMENT

1. How did Janssens, Hookes, and Leewenhoeks work contribute to the work of the scientists
that came after them?
Janssen created the compound microscope and invented the lenses. Then Leewenhoek
used his lenses to create his own handcrafted microscope to observe and describe single
celled organism. Leewenhoek was also the first to record microscopic observations of
muscle fibers, bacteria, spermatozoa, and blood flow in capillaries. Lastly, Hooke
published a book describing his microscopic and telescopic observations (Micrographia).

2. How would our lives be different if we had never realized the existence of microorganisms?
Provide at least one example to support your answer.
We wouldnt be able to make certain foods that are made with the help of
microorganisms such as yogurt, cheese, tempe, wine, and bread.

3. Describe the concept of spontaneous generation. Why do you think it took such a long time for
people to accept that this idea was incorrect?
Spontaneous generation is when people believed that microbes appear from nothing.
The theory states that living things can be created from non-living objects. This took a
long time for people to accept that this idea was incorrect because no one was against
this theory until Louis Pasteur conducted an experiment where he concluded that
microbes do not spontaneously generate, but they exist throughout the environment
and multiply if/when they find themselves in favorable conditions.

4. How do you think the cell theory impacted later scientific discoveries? Explain your answer.
The cell theory helped taxonomists in classifying organisms because the cell theory
believed that cells make up all living things.

5. The microscope and numerous experiments lead to the rejection of spontaneous generation.
This idea had been accepted by most people, including scientists, for over 200 years. How does
this demonstrate the true nature of science?
The true nature of science is to develop theories and test those theories. Once more
modern methods disprove those theories then you can develop new theories again

6. Review Pasteurs experiment. Relate his experiment to the scientific method.

a. What was Pasteurs question?
Where do the microbes come from to cause the broth to decay?

b. State a reasonable hypothesis based upon this question.

Microbes come from cells of organisms on dust particles in the air; not the air itself.

c. What was the independent variable in Pasteurs experiment? What was the dependent
variable?
 Independent variable: bacteria exposure
Dependent variable: cloudiness of broth

d. What did Pasteur conclude from his experiment?

Pasteur concluded that microbes do not spontaneously generate, but they exist
throughout the environment and multiple if/when they find themselves in favorable
conditions.

7. Examine your timeline. How long did it take to develop the cell theory? What does this imply
about the formulation of a theory?
It took 150 years to develop the cell theory. This proves us that it is not easy to convince
people about something especially about something that can change the way you see
living things and it is also hard to come up with a theory because we have to do a
background research and experiments to support our theory.

8. Why do we still consider the cell theory a theory? Explain your answer.
The cell theory is considered a theory and always will be, because it explains things such
as what microbes are, how organisms have organs, how large organisms develop, and
etc.