Microorganisms, especially bacteria and viruses, that can cause disease. Also refers to the earliest form or source of something's development.
From Latin germen meaning 'sprout' or 'bud,' from the root meaning 'to generate.' The biological sense emerged in the 19th century with the development of germ theory, connecting the idea of growth with microscopic life.
The word 'germs' beautifully captures the dual nature of microorganisms - they're simultaneously the source of life (like wheat germ) and potential agents of disease. Most germs are actually beneficial or neutral; less than 1% of bacteria cause human illness, yet these few have shaped human civilization through plagues and medical advances.
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