The modes of origin of lowest organisms including a discussion of the experiments of M. Pasteur

"The Modes of Origin of Lowest Organisms" by H. Charlton Bastian is a deep exploration into the 19th-century debates surrounding the beginnings of basic life forms. The book zeroes in on bacteria and simple organisms. Contrary to popular theories of the time, Bastian sets forth alternative concepts regarding how life emerges, naming a process called "Archebiosis". Bastian presents his research in opposition to the beliefs of scientists such as Louis Pasteur, who supported purely vitalistic interpretations. He uses his experiments to counter widely held beliefs, and looks at the creation of bacteria in varying conditions. Bastian anticipates resistance from other scientific figures, setting the stage for a complete look at the evidence and theories that he presents.