What is a disease?

What is a disease?

• A. A condition caused by heredity alone.
• B. A temporary symptom with no tissue damage.
• C. A condition in which tissues are damaged or their function is altered by microorganisms.
• D. A harmless variation in tissue function.

Answer: (C)

A disease is a condition where tissues are damaged or their function is altered, often due to an invading microorganism such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. This focuses on a real change in how the body’s tissues work, not just a temporary symptom or a harmless variation. The other options describe situations that don’t meet that standard: being caused by heredity alone ignores the many non-genetic diseases; a temporary symptom with no tissue damage isn’t a disease; and a harmless variation isn’t a disruption of normal function.

A disease is a condition where tissues are damaged or their function is altered, often due to an invading microorganism such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. This focuses on a real change in how the body’s tissues work, not just a temporary symptom or a harmless variation. The other options describe situations that don’t meet that standard: being caused by heredity alone ignores the many non-genetic diseases; a temporary symptom with no tissue damage isn’t a disease; and a harmless variation isn’t a disruption of normal function.