Microbiology is the study of microscopic organisms, including bacteria, protozoa, fungi, algae, and viruses. It has origins in the 17th century and has since made important contributions to medicine, physiology, genetics, environmental studies, evolutionary biology, and pharmaceutical studies. Microbiology is still in its infancy, with 99% of existing microbes yet to be studied.
Microbiology is often misclassified as the study of germs or bacteria. While some microbiologists may specifically study viruses, also called virology, or bacteria, also called bacteriology, microbiology encompasses the entire study of microscopic organisms. This includes the study of bacteria, protozoa, fungi, some types of algae, and often viruses.
The origins of this field can be traced back to scientists who speculate that little unseen things could affect other organisms. Anton van Leeuwenhoek was able to observe tiny bacteria in a primitive microscope in the 17th century. Many cite medical microbiology as founded by Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch in the mid to late 19th century.
Subsequent discoveries in the 20th century, such as the discovery of viruses, proved to be of immense importance to medicine. Most medical professionals today credit this field with some of the most important work related to human disease that has ever been conducted.
Medical microbiology is only one aspect of the field. Other subsections of study include applications of science to physiology, genetics, environmental studies, evolutionary biology, and pharmaceutical studies.
In any case, microbes are studied and knowledge about them contributes to these other disciplines. For example, understanding the basic composition of microbes and how they develop and die is part of physiological microbiology. Furthermore, assessing how microbes interact with each other in a complex environment improves our understanding of our environment.
Microbiology in simple applications can also help people understand some of the basic functions of baking ingredients. For example, studies on the behavior of yeast allow people to understand how to effectively use yeast to bake bread. It also helps explain why a loaf of bread can fall flat.
Scientists in microbiology see the world as made up of an almost untold number of tiny invisible parts that affect us in many ways. The field is constantly discovering more that can benefit all humans as they interact with their environment.
Microbiology is only in its infancy as a science. Scientists estimate that about 99% of the existing microbes on earth have not yet been studied. This suggests that greater application of this science could further help us understand some of life’s mysteries that still daunt us.
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