Germ Theory

Louis Pasteur

Germ theory is one of the greatest discoveries in microbiology. Discovered by Louis Pasteur, it proved how sicknesses like strep throat, tuberculosis, and E. coli were caused by small macrobiotic organisms and that sickness did not just appear in blood or was caused by filth. Germ Theory was first discovered in 1859 when Louis Pasteur linked the fact that bacteria cause fermentation. With proof of fermentation, he then linked bacteria disease. Lets back up a bit though and look at the man who discovered this important piece of microbiology. Louis Pasteur was the microbiologist who discovered that fermentation of alcohol was caused by microorganisms. He was a looking for the reason why wine spoiled. He found that a microorganism was causing this and that it could be killed if it was just heated. He also discovered that microorganisms could be found in milk. People then began boiling their milk, to pasteurize it to remove the bacteria. Louis Pasteur had a knack for taking data that was already known and linking it together to form a new idea. Using the knowledge he already had from his past discoveries and the discoveries of others he introduced the idea of germ theory. Germ theory is the theory that microscopic organisms, or later named germs caused thing like disease and fermentation. Louis Pasteur also said that each individual bacterium only caused one individual sickness or disease. At first people did not believe the idea those small living things that no one could see was the source for all the deaths caused by sickness of disease. There were many more theories at the time they seem more realistic, but Lois Pasteur proved germ theory through many testes and demonstration. The germ theory is what people believe today, but with out Louis Pasteur's discovery there would be no modern medicine.