Ten fun facts about Francesco Redi

Fact 1
He was the first scientist to challenge the theories of spontaneous generation by demonstrating that maggots come from eggs of flies.

Fact 2
He was also the first to recognize and correctly describe details of many important parasites.

Fact 3
He may rightly be called the father of modern parasitology.

Fact 4
He was also regarded as the founder of experimental biology.

Fact 5
His father was a renowned physician at Florence.

Fact 6
After schooling with the Jesuits, he attended the University of Pisa from where he obtained his doctoral degrees in medical and philosophy in 1647, at the age of 21.

Fact 7
He was also a member of the Accademia del Cimento (Academy of Experiment) from 1657 to 1667.

Fact 8
He died in his sleep on March 1, 1697, in Pisa and his remains were returned to Arezzo for interment.

Fact 9
A collection of his letters is held at the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland.

Fact 10
Redi is most well known for his series of experiments, published in 1668 as Esperienze Intorno alla Generazione degl'Insetti (Experiments on the Generation of Insects), which is regarded as his masterpiece and a milestone in the history of modern science.

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