It may seem obvious to people living in the modern world that disease is caused by germs or pathogens, but germ theory took centuries to be developed and accepted. Germ theory proposes that microorganisms are the cause of many diseases. This theory was highly controversial when it was first proposed, but it is now a cornerstone of modern medicine. Before germ theory, the view was that disease was spontaneously generated. This ancient view of the cause of disease was first published more than 2,000 years ago. Spontaneous generation was first questioned in 1546, when Girolamo Fracastoro proposed that diseases could be transferred from person to person through small things like seeds. Germ theory was also supported by the observations of Anton van Leeuwenhoek, who first examined pond water under a microscope and identified microorganisms. Other scientists, such as Louis Pasteur, added more evidence to the growing support for germ theory and led to innovations that changed human society, such as antibiotics. What is one reason why germ theory was controversial when it was first proposed? (SC.912.N.1.1)
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1 point
a. Most of the public had little experience with diseases.
b. The previous theory that disease was spontaneously generated had only recently been accepted.
c. The technology had not yet been developed to view microorganisms, many of which can cause disease.
d. The previous theory that disease was spontaneously generated had immediate and recognizable evidence.