Question

characteristics of cells quick check
people once thought that life could arise from nonliving matter, an idea called spontaneous generation. how did scientists show this idea to be incorrect? (1 point)

robert hooke identified cells in the tissue of cork
genetic scientists transferred genes between organisms
antonie van leeuwenhoek observed tiny living things under a microscope
louis pasteur conducted an experiment on the growth of microbes in meat broth

Explanation:

To determine how scientists showed spontaneous generation is incorrect, we analyze each option:

• Robert Hooke's cell identification in cork was about cell discovery, not spontaneous generation.
• Gene transfer by genetic scientists is about genetics, not related to disproving spontaneous generation.
• Antonie van Leeuwenhoek's observation of tiny living things was about discovering microorganisms, not disproving spontaneous generation.
• Louis Pasteur's experiment with meat broth: He used swan - neck flasks. When the flask was open to air (but with the neck preventing dust - borne microbes from entering directly), no growth occurred in the broth. When the neck was broken, microbes grew. This showed that microbes (life) didn't arise spontaneously from the non - living broth but came from pre - existing microbes in the air, thus disproving spontaneous generation.

Answer:

D. Louis Pasteur conducted an experiment on the growth of microbes in meat broth