What is microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microscopic living organisms which are unable to see through naked eyes like bacteria, algae, protozoa, fungi and infectious agent called viruses. These microscopic organisms are also called as microbes. Microscope is the tool which is used to see the microorganisms. Scientist Antoni van Leeuwenhoek is considered as a father of microbiology because he discovered microorganisms using homemade microscope. Microbiology includes the study of distribution and occurrence of microorganisms in nature, their interaction and relationship with each other and to other life forms, their effect on plants, animals and on human beings and their reaction with different chemical and physical agent.
Microorganisms play important role in disease control and cause, climate change, nutrient cycling, biodeterioration/biodegradation (organisms can deteriorate pipes, wood, materials, lenses, glass), biotechnology, food spoilage, fermentation (yogurt, cheese and wine making), vitamins production (vitamin C, B2, B12, etc.) enzyme production (protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase etc.), antibiotic production (penicillin, bacitracin, gentamicin etc.), organic acid production (Lactic acid, citric acid, gluconic acid, malic acid etc.) and biofuel production, bioremediation (processing domestic or industrial waste), alcohol production, interferon production, food and drink processing etc.
Microorganisms can be unicellular or multicellular. Unicellular organisms are single celled organisms and all the functions of life are performed by single cell. They have very simple genetic material. Multicellular organisms are composed of two to billions of cells which make up the whole organisms. They have a complex genetic material. In microbiology multicellular organisms are made up of very few cells. Another class of microorganisms contain acellular organisms which include viruses and infectious agent like prions and viroids.
The term microbiology is also related to the size of organisms because organisms are mainly measured in micrometer except acellular microbes like virus whose size is measured in nanometers. Around 3 billion years ago the earth was formed and microbes were the only life form on the earth. Microorganisms have played an important role in earths evolution. Microorganisms fixes many atmospheric gases which are used by plants and animals.
Branches of microbiology
For easy and simple understanding the subject microbiology is divided into many branches like Parasitology, Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology, Phycology, Nematology and microbial genetics.
1) Parasitology- it is the study of parasites their physiology, distribution, parasitic diseases, evolution, ecology, their molecular biology, their response to host and clinical aspects.
2) Bacteriology- it is the study of bacteria which mainly includes the study of bacterial genetics, biochemistry, ecology and their morphology. It is most widely studied branch of microbiology.
3) Virology- it is the branch of microbiology that deals with the study of viruses and virus like agents. It includes their disease-causing properties, cultivation. Taxonomy, their application in research and therapy and evolution.
4) Mycology- it is the branch of microbiology that deals with the study of fungi ranging from their molecular studies, taxonomy, biochemical properties, genetic studies. It is useful in human life as a source of traditional medicine, tinder, entheogens, food, and also their potential hazard as infection and toxicity.
5) Phycology- it is the study of photosynthetic organisms which can be prokaryotes or eukaryotes like cyanobacteria, Euglena etc.
6) Nematology- it is the study of round worm or nematodes.
7) Microbial genetics- microbial genetics mainly covers hereditary information and mechanisms of its transmission in organisms.
Microorganisms are very important to human health, environment and the economy. Some organisms show immense beneficial health effect while are harmful. The usefulness or harmfulness is depending on for what purpose the organism is used.
Beneficial organisms
Fungi and bacteria work as a decomposer in an ecosystem. They breakdown waste material, dead and decaying organic matter into simple form and releases inorganic molecules. These nutrients are released in soil which are taken up by plants for their growth which is again consumed by animals. after the death of animals, it is again broken down by decomposers. Single celled fungus also called as a yeast is normal flora of many fruits surface and used to make brewing beer, bread making, yogurt making. Many algae can be used as a single cell protein are used as a source of protein like Spirulina, chlorella, Chondrus crispus, pyrenoids etc. Some viruses like bacteriophages are used to treat different bacterial infection because bacteriophages are the viruses which eats bacteria.
Harmful Microorganisms
Human skin is covered by billions of organisms of which some are harmful too. Some organisms cause infection or disease in humans, cattle, plants etc. Some familiar human diseases are as Follows
Bacterial- Typhoid, tuberculosis, cholera, salmonellosis, Bacillary dysentery.
Viral- hepatitis, herpes, smallpox, chickenpox, measles, mumps, influenza.
Protozoal- malaria, amoebic dysentery, Giardiasis, Leishmaniasis.
Fungal- ringworm, candidiasis, aspergillosis.
Also see: Microbiology MCQ
Important MCQ on Microbiology Keywords:
- Microscopy
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Algae
- Protozoa
- Bacterial Metabolism and Characteristics
- Fungus
- Cultivation of bacteria
- Solid media
- Liquid media
- Food micro
- Plant micro
- Dairy micro
- Medical micro
- Fermentation
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Genetics
- Molecular biology
- Ecology
- Evolution
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