The discovery of germs is largely attributed to Louis Pasteur, a French chemist.
Louis Pasteur's Contribution to Germ Theory
| Scientist | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Louis Pasteur | Developed modern germ theory by proving that food spoilage was caused by invisible bacteria, not spontaneous generation, and stipulated that bacteria cause disease. |
In the 1860s, Pasteur's experiments demonstrated that microorganisms were responsible for fermentation and decay. He refuted the long-held belief in spontaneous generation - that life could arise from non-living matter.
Pasteur demonstrated that:
- Spoilage of food is due to contamination by bacteria.
- Bacteria cause infection and disease.
This was the foundation of modern germ theory, revolutionizing the understanding of disease and leading to practices like pasteurization. While other scientists contributed to this field, Pasteur's work solidified and popularized germ theory.
