Koch

Definition

Robert Koch was a pioneering microbiologist who identified the specific causative agents of tuberculosis, cholera, and anthrax. His work laid the foundation for modern bacteriology and germ theory.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Koch developed a series of postulates to prove that a specific microbe causes a specific disease.
2. He discovered the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis in 1882 and cholera in 1883.
3. Koch's techniques included staining bacteria and growing them in pure cultures.
4. He won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1905 for his work on tuberculosis.
5. Koch's postulates emphasize isolating an organism from a diseased host, growing it in pure culture, and reproducing the disease in a healthy host.

Review Questions

• What are Koch's postulates and why are they significant?
• Which diseases did Robert Koch identify the causative agents for?
• Describe one method Robert Koch used to study bacteria.

Related terms

Germ Theory: The theory that microorganisms are the cause of many diseases.

Pure Culture: A laboratory culture containing a single species of organism.

Tuberculosis: An infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, identified by Robert Koch.