The second half of the eighteenth century was a time of spectacular advances in the life sciences. Fundamental problems such as the generation of life were addressed for the first time using modern experimental tools. But these issues were the source of great controversy, and also great rivalries among biologists — or philosophers, as they still preferred to call themselves. At a time when many scientists were still convinced that life can be generated spontaneously from decomposition, the Italian Lazzaro Spallanzani was the first to demonstrate the necessity of sperm for reproduction. He was the first to perform artificial insemination — a challenging experiment at the time, especially as he was a Catholic priest.
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