discover the biological sciences

Discover the Biological Sciences

The introductory information for this site has been contributed as a joint assignment by students in Bio. Sci. 10.

Microbiology - Bacteriology

By: Victor Nuno

Bacteriology

Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, or microbes, a diverse group of minute, simple life forms that include bacteria, archaea, algae, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. The field is concerned with the structure, function, and classification of such organisms and with ways of both exploiting and controlling their activities (Britanica OL).

A very important subfield under microbiology is the study of bacteriology. Bacteriology is the study of bacteria. It comprises the identification, classification and characterization of bacterial species. Bacterias are identified by their properties, for instance their morphology, what nutrients they can grow on or not grow on, and what temperature or environment they require for growth, and what substances they produce (bacteriamuseums).

There are many things that could be studied from bacteriology for example, the study of microorganisms, bacteria’s, viruses, fungi, and parasites. With these studies the medical field can help cure diseases that are harmful to human beings. Not only has this field helped us to develop vaccines against invading organisms, but more importantly has given mankind a second shot at a life.

Bacterias and infectious diseases are important to study. This is important on a personal level and on a large population level. On a personal level because depending on ones personal defense system and number of bacterias encountered may result in from no disease to symptomatic, even fatal infection. On a population level, the types of diseases can change with time and locations. Diseases can cause epidemic to pandemic outbreaks that causes a large number of deaths. Although, diseases have been on earth since the beginning, humans have come a long way to improve the health of everyone well being because of the study and research done on bacterias around the world.
Learning about this topic of microbiology and bacteriology was very interesting to me. I always thought that bacteria were bad due to their association with many human illnesses. After doing this assigment, I found out that most bacteria are harmless and offer beneficial functions to living things and humanity. For instance, bacteria, such as E. coli, live in the intestines of animals and people, helping them digest food as well as producing vitamins.

References
"microbiology." Encyclopædia Britannica.2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 8Sept.2007 <http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9110586>.

http://www.bacteriamuseum.org/niches/wabacteria/bacteriology.shtml
Additional websites
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbiology
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574409/Bacteria.html

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