1824 ⟶ Sperm Discovered to be Agents of Fertilization
J. L. Prevost and J. B. Dumas showed that the sperm in semen...
Year
1768
1824
1826
1843
1876
🔬 Lazzaro Spallanzani Disproves Spontaneous Generation and Studies Reproduction
Lazzaro Spallanzani again disproved spontaneous generation by showing that no organisms grow in a rich broth if it is first heated (to kill any organisms) and allowed to cool in a stoppered flask. He also showed that fertilization in mammals requires an egg and semen.⟶
BiologySpontaneous GenerationLazzaro SpallanzaniGerm TheoryReproduction18th CenturyFertilization
Italy🥚 Sperm Discovered to be Agents of Fertilization
J. L. Prevost and J. B. Dumas showed that the sperm in semen were not parasites, as previously thought, but, instead, the agents of fertilization.⟶
BiologyReproductionFertilizationSpermJ. L. PrevostJ. B. Dumas19th Century BiologyEmbryologySexuality
France🥚 Karl von Baer Discovers Mammalian Eggs in Ovaries
Karl von Baer showed that the eggs of mammals are in the ovaries, ending a 200-year search for the mammalian egg.⟶
BiologyEmbryologyMammalian eggReproduction19th centuryOvariesZoology
Estonia🥚 Fusion of Sperm and Egg Observed in Rabbits
Martin Barry reported the fusion of a sperm and an egg for rabbits in a 1-page paper in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London.⟶
BiologyReproductionFertilizationMartin BarryEmbryology19th CenturyCell Biology
United Kingdom🥚 Hertwig and Fol Describe Sperm Entry and Egg Fusion
Oskar Hertwig and Hermann Fol independently described (in sea urchin eggs) the entry of sperm into the egg and the subsequent fusion of the egg and sperm nuclei to form a single new nucleus.⟶
FertilizationCell BiologyReproductionHertwigFolEmbryology19th Century Biology
Germany