FTCE Pre-K Prekindergarten PK-3 Practice Exam

Who determined that each disease has a specific pathogen?

1. Koch

2. Pasteur

3. Waston

4. Fleming

The correct answer is: Koch

The correct identification of the individual who determined that each disease has a specific pathogen is indeed Robert Koch. He is renowned for his work in microbiology and is often referred to as a founder of the field of bacteriology. Koch established a series of criteria, now known as Koch's postulates, which provide a systematic method to link specific pathogens to specific diseases. His research proved that specific microorganisms could cause certain diseases, thus laying the foundation for microbiology and infectious disease principles. While Louis Pasteur made significant contributions to the understanding of germ theory and the role of microorganisms in disease, including vaccines, it was Koch who specifically articulated the relationship between particular pathogens and particular diseases. James Watson, primarily known for his role in the discovery of the structure of DNA, and Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin, did not focus on the correlation of specific pathogens to diseases in the same way as Koch.