How did the discovery of cells lead to the germ theory of disease?

Answer 1

The discovery of cells lead to the study of the contents of the cell. Scientists found out that the cells contain DNA, which contains genetic information that makes a cell look like a cell. This DNA is enclosed in a nucleus, which gives directions to the cell (e.g. what to do) Next, came an ER (endoplasmic recticulum), that served to produce fats and proteins for the cell. These fats and proteins moved about the cell, (by transport vesicles) serving to nourish the cell. (in this case animal cell).

By now, you can see that the whole cell is interlinked by transport vesicles. And therefore, if one transport vesicle were to be infected, the whole cell would soon be sick. (imagining taking in dirty food...won't you become ill?).

The next idea was that the viruses injected its DNA into the cell, targeting the nucleus. Since the nucleus contained DNA, the DNA from the viruses would bind with the DNA in the cell and take over it. Now, the virus gains control of the nucleus, which tells the cell what to do. The virus now tells the cell to reproduce itself. The cell has no choice but to do so and thus, the cell become so full of viruses that it justs bursts. The viruses then moves along to infect other cells.


Note: I used bacteria and viruses for the first and second example respectively. This is because, both pathogens reproduce differently