Germ theory
Germ theory
1.
(Biology) The theory that living organisms can be produced only by the development of living germs. Compare Biogenesis, Abiogenesis.
2.
(Medicine) The theory which attributes contagious and infectious diseases, suppurative lesions, etc., to the agency of germs, that is pathogenic microorganisms. The science of bacteriology was developed after this theory had been established.