Germ (noun)

1. A microorganism, especially one that can cause disease.
2. A small piece of tissue that has the potential to develop into a new organism.
3. The beginning or earliest stage of something, such as an idea or a problem.

Origin:

From the middle low german word 'germ' meaning 'bud, sprout'.

Examples:

1. The scientist was studying the effects of different sanitizers on the growth of germs.
2. The germ of the idea for the new product came from a chance conversation with a customer.
3. The germ of a new business venture can often be difficult to identify and develop.
4. The seed is a germ of a plant that will grow into a mature plant.
5. Hand washing is an effective way to reduce the spread of germs.