Module 2 : Origin of Life and Evoloution

Lecture 3 : Origin of Life (Part-I)

 

3. Louis Pasteur Experiment: In another conclusive experiment, Pasteur had designed experiment in a flask with “S” shaped curve tube (Figure 3.4). He took hay infusion in the flask and boiled for several minutes. After cooling, the steam condensed into the lower part of tube and act as barrier to stop the entry of microorganisms. No life appeared in the flask for several months. Analysis of condensed water indicates appearance of microorganism in the neck of the tube. Breaking of “S” tube allowed the growth of microorganisms in the flask.

  
3. THEORY OF CATASTROPHISM: This is the extension of the theory of special creation. This theory assumes that life is originated by the creation and it is followed by catastrophe due to geographical disturbances. Each catastrophe destroyed the life completely whereas each creation forms life different from the previous one. Hence, each round of catastrophe/creation is responsible for evolvment of different types of organisms on earth. The critism of the current theory is same as previous one, No scientific experiment to support the hypothesis and mostly be based on imaginery concepts. 

Figure 3.3 : Spallanzani’s Experiment to disprove the theory of abiogenesis.