germ theory

Created by

izzy bick

Cards (12)

what were early 1800s ideas of infection/disease
-surgeons believe chemicals in wound cause infection
-miasma still believed
-scientists saw microbes and believed they were caused by spontaneous generation
who was louis pastuer?
French scientist
discovered germ theory
proved spontaneous generation wrong
what is the belief of spontaneous generation?
theory that rotting materials caused miasma/disease
what are the principles of germ theory?
air contains microorganisms
microbes in air cause decay
microbes not evenly distributed in air
microbes can be killed by heat
how did pastuer make his discovery?
-using microscope discovered microbes in liquid
realised that sterilising water and sealing flask prevented microorganisms from entering
why were doctors opposed to pastuers germ theory?
-doctors could not understand how some microbes caused disease and some did not
what was the impact of germ theory?
-led to understanding of why infection occurred during surgery

-proved spontaneous gen wrong

-led to listers use of carbolic acid as a antiseptic
how to did pastuer help to develop vaccines?
-1881-pastuer and team developed anthrax vaccine for sheep

-1885-pastuer cured boy from rabies by using a vaccine
who is Robert Koch?
The founder of modern bacteriology (study of bacteria)
German dr
what were Kochs main achievements?
-developed methods for staining microorganisms
-discovered specific germs such as
anthrax
TB
-developed use of ajar jelly for growing bacteria
what was significant about Koch's work?
-drs began to study disease itself rather than symptoms
-made it easier for other scientists to study bacteria with staining
-won a nobel prize
what was the impact of germ theory on medicine?
-encouraged new gen of scientists to study diseases

-scientists found chemicals attacked specific germs

-Paul Ehrlich former member of Koch's team developed chemical cure for syphilis