Everyone knows where babies come from, but for most of humanity’s history people have argued about how new life appears.
That struggle to understand the origins of animals and humans was discussed at the University of Aberdeen’s annual Christmas lecture given by leading behavioural scientist, Professor Matthew Cobb, of the University of Manchester.
Around 200 secondary school children from Aberdeen City and Shire heard about an amazing decade of discovery in the 17th Century when Dutch and Danish scientists discovered the two essential components of new life - egg and sperm
The pupils - from Aberdeen Grammar, Albyn School for Girls, Banff Academy, Bridge of Don Academy, Keith Grammar, Mackie Academy, Northfield Academy, Oldmachar Academy and St Margaret’s School for Girls – also learned how it then took more than 150 years before scientists were finally able to piece together exactly what was going on.