What scientist's research showed cells did not arise spontaneously? Hint - His research was stolen by another scientist.

Answer: William Harvey,

Explanation:

Biology's unifying principle states that cells are the basic units of biological organisms. Before the discovery of cells by Robert Hooke in 1665 with a simple microscope, many scientists had long believed that life of rose spontaneously over extended periods of time. The physician William Harvey, for instance, theorized that spontaneous generation was incorrect; he speculated that insects and worms arose from seeds or eggs unseen by the naked eye. He wrote a book in the early 1600's, which included his speculations that inspired other scientists to whom his idea is attributed.

Circa 1668 one such scientist, Francesco Redi, challenged the idea of spontaneous generation of maggots from rotting meat by placing meat in various sealed open, partially sealed and sealed containers. Sealed containers did not show the presence of maggots, and he theorized that these were likely from eggs laid on the meat by flies. This was the development of the theory of abiogenesis; this eventually proved the unifying principle we know today.