germ theory

(noun)

The germ theory of disease, also called the pathogenic theory of medicine, is a theory that proposes that microorganisms are the cause of many diseases. Although highly controversial when first proposed, germ theory was validated in the late 19th century and is now a fundamental part of modern medicine and clinical microbiology, leading to such important innovations as antibiotics and hygienic practices.

Related Terms

Examples of germ theory in the following topics:

  • Pasteur and Spontaneous Generation

    • This was one of the last and most important experiments disproving the theory of spontaneous generation.
    • Ultimately, the ideas of spontaneous generation were displaced by advances in germ theory and cell theory.

  • Antibiotic Discovery

    • Louis Pasteur was a French microbiologist and chemist best known for their experiments supporting the Germ theory of disease, and for his vaccinations, most notably the first vaccine against rabies.

  • History of Epidemiology

    • One of the earliest theories on the origin of disease was that it was primarily the fault of human luxury.
    • In the middle of the 16th century, a doctor from Verona named Girolamo Fracastoro was the first to propose a theory that these very small, unseeable, particles that cause disease were alive.
    • The development of a sufficiently powerful microscope by Anton van Leeuwenhoek in 1675 provided visual evidence of living particles consistent with a germ theory of disease.

  • Modern Microbiology

    • Pasteur is most famous for his series of experiments designed to disprove the then widely held theory of spontaneous generation, thereby solidifying microbiology's identity as a biological science.
    • Koch is best known for his contributions to the germ theory of disease, proving that specific diseases were caused by specific pathogenic microorganisms.

  • History of Microbiology: Hooke, van Leeuwenhoek, and Cohn

    • Thus, Pasteur dealt the death blow to the theory of spontaneous generation and supported germ theory instead.

  • Immunization, Antiseptics, and Antibiotics

    • However, due to a lack of understanding of germ theory, this method was inaccurate.

  • Cytotoxic Autoimmune Reactions

    • The X-inactivation skew theory, suggesting the female-high tendency, and proposed by Princeton University's Jeff Stewart, has recently been confirmed experimentally in scleroderma and autoimmune thyroiditis.
    • Autoimmunity is often caused by a lack of germ development of a target body and, as such, the immune response acts against its own cells and tissues.
    • Another theory suggests the female-high tendency to get autoimmunity is due to an imbalanced X chromosome inactivation.
    • The X-inactivation skew theory, proposed by Princeton University's Jeff Stewart, has recently been confirmed experimentally in scleroderma and autoimmune thyroiditis.

  • The Roles of Genetics and Gender in Autoimmune Disease

    • Autoimmunity is often caused by a lack of germ development of a target body and as such the immune response acts against its own cells and tissues.
    • Another theory suggests the female high tendency to get autoimmunity is due to an imbalanced X chromosome inactivation.

  • Schistosomiasis

    • This contains germ cells which will divide to produce secondary sporocysts.
    • In turn, these migrate to the snails' hepatopancreas and the germ cells, now present within the secondary sporocysts, will divide to form thousands of new parasites called cercariae.

  • Biological Weapons

    • Biological warfare (BW) — also known as germ warfare — is the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi with the intent to kill or incapacitate humans, animals, or plants as an act of war .