What is microbiology?

Photo provided Students in the department of Microbiology, study first hand the questions that define the study of Microbiology.  more

Microbiology is often incorrectly classed as the study of germs or of bacteria. While some microbiologists may specifically study viruses, also called virology, or bacteria, also called bacteriology, microbiology encompasses the whole of studying microscopic organisms. This includes the study of bacteria, protozoa, fungi, some types of algae, and often viruses. The origins of microbiology can be traced to scientists positing that small unseeable things might affect other organisms. Anton van Leeuwenhoek was able to observe tiny bacteria in a primitive microscope in the 17th century. Many cite microbiology of medical origin as having been founded by Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch in the mid to late 19th century. Later discoveries in the 20th century, like the discovery of viruses proved of immense importance to medical use of microbiology. Most physicians today credit microbiology with some of the most important work related to human illness that has ever been conducted. Medical ...  more

Microbiology is the study (logy) of very small (micro) living (bio) things. Microbiology is the study of microorganisms. These "bugs" include: bacteria (that's the Latin plural for bacterium); viruses (that's the non-Latin plural for virus - virii sounds weird, so I don't say it); and, fungi (that's the Latin plural for fungus - which by now you have guessed, or already knew, and may not be all that interested to know, anyway). Microbiology is actually made up of several sub-disciplines. Microbiology, one of the fastest growing areas of science, is the study of organisms so small that they must be viewed with a microscope. These organisms are primarily bacteria, yeasts, molds, and viruses. Many of the most important scientific discoveries of recent years have been made by microbiologists: since 1910, one-third of the Nobel Prizes in medicine and physiology have been awarded to microbiologists. They are concerned with the welfare of humankind, concentrating not only on aspects of host- ...  more

The tiny things you know of as germs are known as bacteria by scientists. They are very small and you can't see them. Many thousands could fit on a pin head. They are alive, in the same way that you are, or a dog is, or a plant is. The study of these and other small living things or organisms is called Microbiology.  more

Video Transcript What Is Microbiology? I have here my trusted microscope. I use that when I want to look at things that are too small to be seen by the naked eye. I'm Janice Creneti and this is What is Microbiology? Now you may be familiar with the term micro and things like microscope. It means things that are very very very small and can't be seen with the naked eye. Biology of course refers to anything that's alive. So when you put micro and biology together you get things that are alive but are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Microbiology is becoming more and more important every day as a science. Because microbiology teaches us a lot about the things that are necessary to keep us healthy. The study of microbiology has really led to most of our information on disease. Microbiology covers subjects such as bacteria, even viruses although they're not always considered to be entirely alive. Things like produts; you might have heard of something called amoebas that cause ...  more

(a) Microbiology is "the study of microbes, organisms so small that a microscope is needed to study them.  more