Suppose Pasteur's swan-necked flasks containing boiled broth became cloudy 24 hours after boiling. Which choice could best explain the turbidity or cloudiness in the broth without supporting spontaneous generation?
A) Endospores in the broth survived boiling and grew after the broth cooled.
B) Contaminating organisms in the broth killed by boiling became alive again after the broth cooled.
C) Chemicals in the broth came together to form living organisms.
D) The broth allowed light to pass through it with less interference after boiling.
E) Solid material in the broth dissolved during boiling.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Endospores are heat-resistant structures that can survive boiling, and they can germinate and grow into vegetative cells after the broth has cooled. This is a common explanation for contamination in sterilized media, and supports the concept of biological agents being responsible for the turbidity observed in Pasteur's flasks.

Suppose Pasteur's Swan-Necked Flasks Containing Boiled Broth Became Cloudy 24