Who is lazzaro spallanzani?

Question

Who is lazzaro spallanzani?

Answer 1

A distinguished eighteenth-century scientist, Lazzaro Spallanzani was born at Scadiano in Modena, Italy, in 1729.  He died at Pavia in 1799.  

His contributions to every phase of physical science are valuable, but it was in biology that his work counted for most; his studies in regeneration are still classic. He showed experimentally that many animals like the lizard and the snail, if accidentally injured, regenerate important parts of their bodies; the land snail regenerates even its head. It was afterwards shown that this does not contain the brain, but it does contain eyes, mouth, tongue, and teeth, and these are all regenerated.

His investigations have exerted a lasting influence on the medical sciences. He made important contributions to the experimental study of bodily functions and animal reproduction. His investigations into the development of microscopic life in nutrient culture solutions paved the way for the research of Louis Pasteur.

Spallanzani made a long series of interesting experiments on artificial fecundation (i.e., fertilization, impregnation). His most important work is "Dissertazioni di fisica animale e vegetale" (Modena, 1780).

His biological work brought him into controversies with Needham and Buffon over spontaneous generation, and with John Hunter over digestion. He came off victorious in these contests.  

[From "The Catholic Encyclopedia" (online) and whonamedit.com (online)]  

For more information, please see:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14209a.h...

and

http://www.whonamedit.com/doctor.cfm/223...

and

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Spal...