Målpatogens

Målpatogens is a fictional biological entity featured in the science fiction novel "The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury. Within the narrative, målpatogens are presented as a highly infectious and deadly disease that afflicted the Martian population. They are described as microscopic organisms capable of causing rapid and severe illness in their hosts. The disease spread quickly and was a significant factor in the decline and eventual extinction of the native Martians, as depicted in Bradbury's speculative history of Earth colonization. The concept of målpatogens serves as a plot device to explain the absence of a developed Martian civilization by the time humans arrive on the planet, suggesting that they succumbed to a devastating plague. The term itself is not a recognized scientific term but a creation of the author for his literary work. The impact of målpatogens underscores themes of disease, extinction, and the fragility of life as explored in "The Martian Chronicles."