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During the 19th century it was discovered that microorganisms were behind biochemical processes, such as fermentation, which is caused by microscopic fungi. This raised questions about whether such processes were a manifestation of a special life force that existed only with living matter. In 1897 Eduard Buchner discovered that yeast extract with no living yeast fungi can form alcohol from a sugar solution. The conclusion was that biochemical processes do not necessarily require living cells, but are driven by special substances, enzymes, formed in cells.