Francesco Redi's Experiment and Findings

Francesco Redi, an Italian scientist, conducted one of the earliest controlled experiments to test a hypothesis. He observed that maggots appeared on meat left uncovered and hypothesized that flies were responsible for producing maggots. To test this, he set up two jars with meat: one uncovered (experimental) and one covered (control). After a few days, maggots appeared only in the uncovered jar, supporting his hypothesis that flies produce maggots.

Who was Francesco Redi?

• A German mathematician

• A Spanish explorer

• An Italian scientist

• A French philosopher

What question did Redi ask after observing maggots on meat?

• Why do flies eat meat?

• Why are maggots found on rotting meat?

• Why does meat spoil?

• Why do maggots fly?

What was Redi's hypothesis regarding maggots?

• Maggots are produced by sunlight.

• Maggots are produced by flies.

• Maggots are produced by bacteria.

• Maggots are produced by air.

What was the purpose of the covered jar in Redi's experiment?

• To allow maggots to grow

• To prevent flies from reaching the meat

• To keep the meat fresh

• To expose the meat to air

What did Redi observe in the uncovered jar?

• No maggots appeared

• The meat disappeared

• Maggots appeared

• The meat remained fresh

What conclusion did Redi draw from his experiment?

• Maggots are produced by the meat itself.

• Maggots are produced by flies.

• Maggots are produced by the jar.

• Maggots are produced by the air.

What was the significance of Redi's experiment?

• It demonstrated the use of controls in scientific experiments.

• It revealed that flies are attracted to fresh meat.

• It showed that meat can produce maggots.

• It proved that maggots are a type of fly.