Germ Theory and Viruses

Biogenesis

The concept that life comes from pre-existing cells.

Spontaneous Generation

The theory that life can arise from non-living (abiotic) material.

Miasma Theory

An outdated theory that disease was caused by inhaling "bad air" or foul-smelling vapors.

Germ Theory

The current theory that disease is caused by pathogens.

Pathogen

Any agent that can cause disease, including inherited factors, environmental factors, biotic agents, and viruses.

Robert Koch

A scientist who described the steps to identify the cause of infectious diseases.

Koch’s Postulates

A series of steps to identify and isolate a microbe, grow it in pure culture, reproduce the disease, and re-isolate the microbe.

Louis Pasteur

A scientist who helped disprove spontaneous generation through the process of pasteurization.

Edward Jenner

The creator of the first vaccine using cowpox to prevent smallpox.

Disease Transmission

The ways diseases are spread, including person-to-person contact, contaminated food/water, and vectors.

Antibiotics

Medications that kill bacteria but do not work on viruses.

Vaccines

Preparations that alert the immune system to fight against infections.

Viruses

Infectious agents not considered "alive," containing DNA or RNA, and lacking organelles.

Bacteriophage

A type of virus that specifically attacks bacteria.

Lytic Cycle

A viral reproduction process where the virus injects DNA into a host cell, destroys the host cell DNA, and causes the cell to burst, releasing copies of the virus.

Lysogenic Cycle

A viral reproduction process where the virus injects DNA into the host cell, merges with the host DNA, and replicates with the host cell without immediately destroying it.