Francesco Redi was an Italian physician and poet born in 1626. He is best known for his experiments that challenged the idea of spontaneous generation, which suggested that living organisms could arise from non-living matter. Redi's work laid the foundation for modern biology and the study of microbiology. In 1668, Redi conducted a famous experiment using jars of meat. He placed some jars open to the air and others sealed tightly. The open jars attracted flies, which laid eggs, while the sealed jars remained free of maggots. This demonstrated that life comes from existing life, not from inanimate objects.