What is Microbiology?

What is Microbiology?

• Microbiology is the science and study of small living organisms

What are Microorganisms? (They are also known as microbes)

• They are very small or minute living organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye

• Microorganisms are organisms that are too small to be seen without a microscope

Some examples of why are microbes important?

1. Humans and animals can depend on microbes for digestion, as well as synthesis of certain vitamins that the body requires
2. Food industry often use microbes in producing products such as bread and yogurt
3. Microbes used in the synthesis of chemical products such as vitamins and drugs
4. Soil microbes help break down waste and incorporate nitrogen gas from the air into organic compounds
5. Some microbes play a role in photosynthesis

Differentiate major characteristics of each group of microbes (some of them are not microbes)

1. Bacteria
2. Archaea
3. Fungi
4. Protozoa
5. Algae
6. Viruses
7. Multicellular animal parasites

• Parasitic worms

8. Arthropods

What are the 3 Domains?

1. Bacteria
2. Archaea
3. Eukarya

Scientific nomenclature assigns each organism two names:

• Genus
• This is capitalized
• Specific epithet (species names)

• Both are either italicized or underlined
• Ex: Staphylococcus aureus or Staphylococcus aureus