Which of the following statements about the germ theory of disease is correct?

• A. It suggests that disease is a result of bad air or miasma.
• B. It states that specific microorganisms are the cause of specific diseases.
• C. It claims that all diseases are inherited genetically.
• D. It proposes that diseases are caused by imbalances in body fluids.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the historical context of the germ theory of disease, which was developed to explain the cause of infectious diseases.
2. Recall that the germ theory states that specific microorganisms (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi) are responsible for causing specific diseases.
3. Recognize that the miasma theory, which suggested diseases were caused by 'bad air,' was an earlier and incorrect explanation before the germ theory was established.
4. Note that genetic inheritance and imbalances in body fluids (humoral theory) are separate concepts and not part of the germ theory.
5. Conclude that the correct statement about the germ theory is that it identifies specific microorganisms as the cause of specific diseases.