Why might epidemiology be considered more essential for the study of non-infectious diseases than the study of infectious diseases? (A) The causes of infectious diseases have already been determined - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 16 - 2015 - Paper 1

Epidemiology plays a crucial role in understanding non-infectious diseases because these diseases often arise from complex interactions between various factors, including lifestyle, environment, and genetic predispositions. Unlike infectious diseases, which follow a defined causative chain, non-infectious diseases require detailed investigation of risk factors and patterns in populations.

The correct response to this question is (D) Koch’s postulates are not useful in finding the causes of non-infectious diseases. Koch's postulates are specific to infectious diseases and focus on identifying a pathogen as the cause of a disease, not suitable for conditions influenced by multifactorial etiology.